Evaluation of health related quality of life in 6-18 years old patients with acute leukemia during chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of Iranian children with acute leukemia during chemotherapy.

Methods: One hundred patients between 6 to 18-years-old were selected by convenient sampling method. EORTC QLQ-C30 Questionnaire was completed by their parents' help. Demographic information such as age, sex and type of leukemia were also collected. These data were evaluated by SPSS software, Chi-square and independent sample T test. The relation between different scales of questionnaire and variables was measured and final results were compared with reference values.

Results: In acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia patients QOL, physical and cognitive functions were lower in comparison with acute myelogenous leukemia and they had more fatigue, pain and insomnia. The patients between ages of 12-18-years-old had more financial difficulties and diarrhea and lower cognitive function in comparison with 6-12-years-old patients. The present patients achieved higher scores than reference value, but they had more economic problem.

Conclusions: The patients had relatively good QOL. The lowest impression was in cognitive function and the highest was in emotional function. The patients mostly complained of financial difficulties and fatigue and rarely of diarrhea and constipation. It is necessary to do more researches related to health related QOL in pediatric patients.