title: Health-related quality of life among survivors of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the fifth most common cancer among men and women. Patients with aggressive NHL receive intense medical treatments that can significantly compromise health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, knowledge of HRQOL and its correlates among survivors of aggressive NHL is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported data on HRQOL (physical and mental function, anxiety, depression, and fatigue) were analyzed for 319 survivors of aggressive NHL. Survivors 2 to 5 years postdiagnosis were selected from the Los Angeles County Cancer Registry. Bivariate and multivariable methods were used to assess the influence of sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive health-appraisal factors on survivors' HRQOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After accounting for other covariates, marital status was associated with all HRQOL outcomes (P < .05). Younger survivors reported worse mental function and higher levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue (P < .01). Survivors who had more comorbid conditions or lacked private health insurance reported worse physical and mental function and higher levels of depression and fatigue (P < .05). Survivors who experienced a recurrence reported worse physical function and higher levels of depression and fatigue (P < .05). With the exception of a nonsignificant association between perceived control and physical function, greater perceptions of personal control and health competence were associated significantly with more positive HRQOL outcomes (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current results indicated that survivors of aggressive NHL who are younger, are unmarried, lack private insurance, or experience greater illness burden may be at risk for poorer HRQOL. Cognitive health-appraisal factors were strongly related to HRQOL, suggesting potential benefits of interventions focused on these mutable factors for this population.
authors.affiliation: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. rj222@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Roxanne E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Neeraj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Ann S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Noreen M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Arnold L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Potosky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*