title: Impaired health-related quality of life in acute myeloid leukemia survivors: a single-center study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by comparing the HRQOL of AML survivors with the HRQOL in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two HRQOL questionnaires (EQ-5D and QLQ-C30) were sent to patients diagnosed with AML between 1999 and 2011 at a single academic hospital and still alive in 2012. HRQOL in AML survivors was compared with general population reference values. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with HRQOL in AML survivors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires were returned by 92 of the 103 patients (89%). AML survivors reported significantly worse functioning, more fatigue, pain, dyspnea, appetite loss, and financial difficulties and lower EQ-VAS scores than the general population (P < 0.05). Impaired HRQOL in AML survivors was mainly found in survivors without a paid job. Other factors associated with a poor HRQOL were allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the absence of social support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This single-center study showed that the HRQOL in AML survivors is worse than the HRQOL in the general population. HRQOL in these patients can be improved by adequately treating and preventing fatigue, pain, dyspnea, and appetite loss.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Technology Assessment/Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leunis
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Redekop
authors.forename: Carin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Uyl-de Groot
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Löwenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: EORTC QLQ-C30; EQ-5D; acute myeloid leukemia; quality of life