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. 2018 Mar;5(1):56-63.
doi: 10.1093/nop/npx010. Epub 2017 Jul 4.

Relationship between symptom burden and health status: analysis of the MDASI-BT and EQ-5D

Elizabeth Vera  1   2 , Alvina A Acquaye  1   2 , Tito R Mendoza  3 , Mark R Gilbert  1 , Terri S Armstrong  1   2
Affiliations

Relationship between symptom burden and health status: analysis of the MDASI-BT and EQ-5D

Elizabeth Vera et al. Neurooncol Pract. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Patients with glioma are highly symptomatic and often have functional limitations from the time of diagnosis. Measuring health status may have value in determining impact of disease. This study provided a description of health status and utility scores in glioma patients throughout the illness trajectory using the EQ-5D (a functional measure of general health status). Furthermore, it evaluated the information provided by the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT; a measure of symptom burden and interference) in describing health-related quality of life as assessed by the EQ-5D.

Methods: Glioma patients completed the EQ-5D and MDASI-BT. Disease and clinical details were collected by medical record review. Linear regression evaluated whether MDASI-BT scores adequately predict patient health outcomes measured by the EQ-5D.

Results: The sample included 100 patients (65% male, 78% with a glioblastoma, median age 52 [range, 20-75], 56% in active treatment). Seventy-two percent of patients reported functional limitations in at least 1 area. Extreme cases reported inability to perform usual activities (8%) and significant anxiety/depression (5%). The MDASI-BT neurologic factor and activity-related interference (walking/activity/work) explained 52% of the variability in the EQ-5D in this patient population while adjusting for the effect of tumor grade, recurrence status, and performance status.

Conclusions: The majority of glioma patients reported at least 1 functional limitation on the EQ-5D. Over half of the variance in the EQ-5D was explained by the MDASI-BT, performance status, tumor grade, and recurrence status. The resultant model demonstrates the significant contribution of symptom burden on health status in glioma patients.

Keywords: EQ-5D; MDASI-BT; health status; symptom burden.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS) ratings by clinical characteristics. EQ-5D VAS is rated on a 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health) scale.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
MDASI-BT severity by item. Percentage of patients who endorsed symptoms as moderate-severe. A rating of 5 or higher on a 0 (symptom not present) to 10 (symptom is as bad as can be imagined) scale is considered moderate-severe.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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