[Study on the quality of life in long-term survivors with acute leukemia in Shanghai].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of life (QOL) in long-term survivors with acute leukemia (AL).


METHODS
Ninety-five long-term survivors with AL drawn from 29 hospitals in Shanghai during the period 1984 - 1994 were studied. Questionnaire FACT-G was completed in order to assess the QOL for long-term survivors with AL.


RESULTS
Questionnaires assessing QOL were filled in by 95 long-term survivors with AL. Majority of the survivor turned out having normal QOL. The average QOL score was 85. Patients aged over 60 years old and illiterate had higher QOL score. About 50% of the patients had returned to full-time job or school. 12.6% of the patients had had secondary diseases due to chemotherapy. Nearly half of the married patients were not satisfied with their sexual life.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, prevention of having secondary diseases and to keep sexual function must call for serious attention during chemotherapy. The biggest challenge was to prevent relapse and the affordability to treatment.
Wang
Xiao-qin
XQ
Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Lin
Guo-wei
GW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors