Health-Related Quality of Life and Posttraumatic Growth in Low-Grade Gliomas in China: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to describe the quality of life (QoL) changes of survivors of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) 1 year after surgery and to identify determinants of QoL with an emphasis on the role of perceived posttraumatic growth (PTG). We also tried to examine the linear and quadratic relationship between QoL and PTG.

METHODS: Two hundred sixty participants were included in the final data analysis. The Chinese version of posttraumatic growth inventory and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain scale were used to measure PTG and QoL. Hierarchical linear models were fitted to explore the individual time trajectories in change of QoL and examine the relationship between demographics, clinical features, PTG, and QoL.

RESULTS: All dimensions of QoL and PTG increased over time except physical well-being, social well-being in QoL, and new possibilities in PTG. Time, PTG score, insurance, socioeconomic status, and right hemisphere tumor position were positive predictors of QoL. Seizure and depression negatively predicted QoL. The quadratic of PTG predicted QoL; however, the coefficient of quadratic PTG approached zero.

CONCLUSIONS: In general, PTG and QoL increased over time. Perceived PTG could significantly predict QoL of LGGs survivors 1 year after surgery. A quadratic relation between PTG and QoL was not found. Although our data suggested that the growth of QoL may vary across different patients, there were only 2 time points in this study. Future studies should set more time points to examine this relationship.