TY  - JOUR
A1  - Eichler, Martin
A1  - Hentschel, Ludwig Leopold
A1  - Richter, Stephan
A1  - Hohenberger, Peter
A1  - Kasper, Bernd L.
A1  - Andreou, Dimosthenis
A1  - Pink, Daniel
A1  - Jakob, Jens
A1  - Singer, Susanne
A1  - Grützmann, Robert
A1  - Fung, Stephen
A1  - Wardelmann, Eva
A1  - Arndt, Karin
A1  - Heidt, Vitali
A1  - Hofbauer, Christine
A1  - Fried, Marius
A1  - Gaidzik, Verena Ingeborg
A1  - Verpoort, Karl
A1  - Ahrens, Marit
A1  - Weitz, Jürgen
A1  - Schaser, Klaus-Dieter
A1  - Bornhäuser, Martin
A1  - Schmitt, Jochen H.
A1  - Schuler, Markus Kajo
T1  - The health-related quality of life of sarcoma patients and survivors in Germany - cross-sectional results of a nationwide observational study (PROSa)
T2  - Cancers
N2  - Sarcomas are rare cancers with high heterogeneity in terms of type, location, and treatment. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of sarcoma patients has rarely been investigated and is the subject of this analysis. Adult sarcoma patients and survivors were assessed between September 2017 and February 2019 in 39 study centers in Germany using standardized, validated questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)). Associated factors were analyzed exploratively using multivariable linear regressions. Among 1113 patients, clinically important limitations and symptoms were most pronounced in emotional (63%, 95% CI 60–66%), physical (60%, 95% CI 57–62%), role functioning (51%, 95% CI 48–54%), and pain (56%, 95% CI 53–59%) and fatigue (51%, 95% CI 48–54%). HRQoL differed between tumor locations with lower extremities performing the worst and sarcoma types with bone sarcoma types being most affected. Additionally, female gender, higher age, lower socioeconomic status, recurrent disease, not being in retirement, comorbidities, and being in treatment were associated with lower HRQoL. Sarcoma patients are severely restricted in their HRQoL, especially in functioning scales. The heterogeneity of sarcomas with regard to type and location is reflected in HRQoL outcomes. During treatment and follow-up, close attention has to be paid to the reintegration of the patients into daily life as well as to their physical abilities and emotional distress.
KW  - sarcoma
KW  - health-related quality of life
KW  - rare disease
KW  - observational study
KW  - clinically important restrictions and symptoms
Y1  - 2020
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/57554
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-575545
SN  - 2072-6694
VL  - 12
IS  - Article 3590
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -