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Evaluating Clinical and Sociodemographic Risk for Symptom Burden Associated Interference With Daily Functioning in
Bennett A McIver1, Tara S Davis1, Kimberly Reinhart1
1Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Cancer Medicine
|March 7, 2025
Summary
Brain tumor patients with disease progression experience worse daily functioning and mood. Factors like multiple surgeries, tumor type, and rural upbringing impact daily life interference.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Symptom Science
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Symptom burden significantly impacts daily functioning in brain tumor patients, particularly those with higher-grade or progressing tumors.
- Understanding factors contributing to symptom severity is crucial for improving patient quality of life.
- This study investigates these factors in a diverse cohort of brain tumor patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with activity-related and mood-related interference in brain tumor patients.
- To explore the severity of symptom burden in relation to disease characteristics and patient background.
- To inform targeted interventions for patients experiencing significant functional and mood impairment.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 566 brain tumor patients using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor.
- Data collected included sociodemographic information, clinical data, and self-reported interference in daily activities and mood.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for moderate-severe interference.
Main Results:
- Risk factors for moderate-severe activity interference included multiple surgeries, ependymoma diagnosis, and a rural childhood.
- Tumor progression was a significant risk factor for moderate-severe mood-related interference.
- The patient sample was diverse, with a median age of 48, predominantly male, and a high proportion with high-grade tumors and recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Patient-reported interference with daily functioning is linked to sociodemographic and disease-related factors.
- Worse mood-related interference is notably associated with tumor progression.
- Future research should incorporate social determinants of health and longitudinal data to develop effective interventions.
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