Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept including physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functions, disease symptoms, and side effects of treatment. Differences in HRQoL due to gender, existence of comorbidities, and number of
chemotherapy cycles are little explored in
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) survivors. Our objective was to investigate whether differences in HRQoL in function of these factors exist 1 year after the diagnosis of DLBCL. One hundred and one patients, enrolled in the RT3 (Real-Time Tailored
Therapy) Study, answered self-administrated European Organization for Research and Treatment of
Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC High-Grade
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL-HG29), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (
HADS), Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and Multidimensional
Fatigue Inventory (MFI) questionnaires. Adjusted means of scores were calculated in multivariate linear regression models. Fifty-seven survivors (mean age of 58.5 years) answered all questionnaires. Women have significantly higher scores of posttraumatic growth and lower physical functioning than men (P < 0.04). Survivors with comorbidities have increased physical
fatigue and symptom burden, increased emotional impact,
mental fatigue and depression, and reduced physical functioning and global health status (all P < 0.05). A greater number of cycles of
chemotherapy increase the level of symptoms (
pain, neuropathy, and dyspnoea; P < 0.05). The various aspects related to HRQoL should be discussed with DLBCL patients and investigated, with the aim of developing strategies to ensure appropriate psychosocial and supportive care and to improve the HRQoL in these patients.