Analysis of Quality of life in Brain tumour patients pre and post radiotherapy

Background: The study of quality of life in patients with brain tumours during and after radiation therapy can aid in the development of effective interventional therapies for a variety of symptoms. Aim : An observational prospective follow-up study using the EORTC QLQ-C30/BN20 questionnaire to investigate the parameters related with quality of life in brain tumour patients at baseline, six weeks, three months, and six months after radiotherapy. Materials and methods: The prospective observational follow-up study was conducted over a period of 12 months in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jollygrant, Dehradun, among 45 consecutive cases of brain tumour presented over a one-year period. Complete medical history, physical examination, systemic examination (including neurological examination and baseline cognitive assessment), complete hemogram and renal function test, MRI brain, Biopsy proven primary neoplasm, Performance status was assessed using the KPS scale, and the source of proforma was the European organisation for research and treatment of quality of life and mini mental status examination. Results and conclusion: Both high grade and low had poor mean scores in cognitive functioning , emotional functioning . High grade glioma showed more symptoms of motor dysfunction (p<0.019), communication deficit (p<0.006) .The mean scores of physical functioning , role functioning , and social functioning were better in low grade gliomas. With respect to QLQ C-30/BN 20 domains , High grade glioma patients showed more symptom score such as headache (p<0.01) , Nausea and vomiting (p<0.003). Karnofsky performance status showed significant associations with all the functional scales. The patients treated with radical chemoradiation therapy showed significant correlation with role functioning (p<0.004) and improved pain score and fatigue compared to hypofractionated radiation therapy in brain tumor patients. Quality of life in Functional and Symptom scale scoring, in patients undergoing treatment for brain tumor, deteriorated significantly after treatment and gradually improved with time, as assessed on further follow up at 3 months and 6 months .