Health related quality of life associated factors among patients with brain tumors

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important outcome measure in primary brain tumor patients، because they have an incurable disease. The objective of this study was to examine HRQOL and associated factors among patients with primary brain tumor. 194 brain tumor patients who had been referred to Shariati hospital were examined. The eligible patients were asked to complete a questionnaire which consisted of demographic questions، clinical variables، the EORTC QLQ-C30 and The EORTC QLQ-BN20. The data was analyzed by multivariate regression. Mean age of the patients was 42. 05±16. 0 years. Most of the patients were male (53%) and married (66%). The multivariate regression models indicated that older age، Female sex، lower education were associated with poor quality of life and more symptoms. On the other hand، combination treatment، total resection، better MMSE score (Mini-Mental State Exam)، higher functional status as reflected in the Karnofsky measure were associated with higher quality of life. These results were similar for both generic and disease specific quality of life. However، demographic and clinical variables predicted better changing disease specific quality of life in comparison with the generic measures. Discussion & patients with brain tumor suffer from poor quality of life in all generic and specific dimensions. The need for supportive interventions including new treatment strategies، rehabilitation and social work for this patient population seems necessary.