title: Assessment of neuropsychological parameters and quality of life to evaluate outcome in patients with surgically treated supratentorial meningiomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  According to current outcomes research programs, assessment of a broad spectrum of parameters, including quality of life indices, is required to adequately reflect the results of a given treatment. We performed a comprehensive evaluation in patients after supratentorial meningioma surgery in a retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 91 consecutive patients, outcome was assessed in individual sessions in patients' homes an average of 15 months (standard deviation, +/- 3.6 months) after surgery. The survey included tests of cognitive performance, coping strategies, satisfaction with life, and a structured interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant negative correlation between patient age and cognitive performance (P < 0.001), with a major decline beginning at the age of 55 years. Despite normal cognitive performance, 73% of younger patients (younger than 55 years) compared with 20% of older patients (P < 0.001) were not satisfied with life. As a major problem, 68% of younger patients described an inability to accept having this severe disease as a young person. Patients living as singles had a higher frequency of depressive coping (P < 0.05) and less satisfaction with life (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive evaluation after meningioma surgery is required to prevent poor long-term results after apparently successful surgery. In our study, tests and structured interviews revealed different aspects, especially concerning patient age. Because demographic variables clearly influenced satisfaction with life, evaluation of quality of life must account for these factors to improve comparison of different studies. However, prospective studies with larger cohorts and control groups are required to prove our hypotheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Wolfgang.Krupp@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koschny
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meixensberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery