Flechl B, et al. – This study targeted newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma (GB) and gauged their course of quality of life (QoL) and neurocognition. Findings highlighted the feasibility of QoL and cognitive long–term assessments in some patients with GB after a symptomatic progression. Maintenance of QoL and cognitive summary scales before tumor progression had been suggested. According to tumor location and socioeconomic factors, this study outlined subgroups.

Methods

• This study entailed consecutive patients with newly diagnosed GB from 2010 to 2013 at the Medical University of Vienna.
• The EORTC QLQ C30 and BN20 questionnaire were used to assess QoL.
• The NeuroCog FX estimated neurocognition.
• In addition, the evaluations were done 6 times every three months, beginning at the beginning of radio-chemotherapy.

Results

• In this study, 42 patients participated.
• After the first disease progression, QoL and neurocognition were recorded in 23 patients.
• It was noted that patients maintained their cognitive summary score until relapse.
• As compared to patients with right-sided tumors, patients with left-sided tumors showed significant lower scores in the subscale verbal fluency.
• A decline in the global health score of QoL after the fifth evaluation (13 months after diagnosis), was observed.
• On the other hand, a peak of fatigue symptoms was obtained at the third evaluation.
• 7 months after diagnosis, fatigue symptoms increased strongly.
• Furthermore, patients’ financial difficulties were mentioned more frequently by younger patients and in patients with lower education levels.