Abstract
There are limited data describing the impact of active surveillance on longitudinal health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). A cohort of untreated indolent NHL patients completed FACT-LYM questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after diagnosis. Longitudinal FACT-LYM scores were analyzed by ANOVA and generalized linear mixed models. Indolent NHL scores were compared to norm general population scores. A total of 52 patients were identified, of which 46 (88%) remained on active surveillance at 36 months. There was no significant change in any of the FACT-LYM scores over 36 months. As compared to the general population, indolent NHL patients had higher, clinically meaningful scores in physical, functional, and social well-being, but not emotional well-being. Patients with indolent NHL on active surveillance have globally preserved HRQoL for up to 3 years after diagnosis. Emotional well-being continues to be an unmet need during active surveillance.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Keith and Susan Hoogland for their philanthropic support of the Hoogland Lymphoma Biobank.
Author contributions
Ajay Major: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing – original draft; Rachel Wright: data curation, project administration; Fay Hlubocky: writing – review and editing; Sonali M. Smith: writing – review and editing; Micah T. Prochaska: methodology, formal analysis, writing – review and editing.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).