Feasibility of Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Lymphoma Aged ≥80 Years Receiving Reduced-Intensity Chemotherapy: A Single-Institute Study

Abstract

Quality of life (QOL) must be carefully monitored in older patients with lymphoma who are suitable for chemotherapy, but few reports have assessed QOL in older patients who received reduced-intensity chemotherapy. This study investigated QOL in patients with lymphoma aged ≥80 years to clarify the feasibility of such assessments following reduced-intensity chemotherapy. QOL was prospectively analyzed (using the QOL Questionnaire for Cancer Patients Treated with Anticancer Drugs (QOL-ACD)] and the SF-36®, a comprehensive survey of patient health) among 13 patients (seven women) aged ≥80 years with lymphoma who received reduced-intensity chemotherapy at 4-week intervals at Kyushu University Beppu Hospital between June 2022 and August 2023. Patients were assessed at baseline, in the middle of the protocol, at the end of the protocol, and 6 months after the end of the protocol. The overall response rate was 69%. Almost all severe adverse events (10 patients) occurred during early cycles (cycles 1–2). Common adverse events included hematological toxicities such as neutropenia (10 patients). The daily activity (p = 0.048) and social attitude (p = 0.027) scores of the QOL-ACD and the general health perception (p = 0.044) and social functioning (p = 0.030) scores of the SF-36® were significantly improved during and after chemotherapy. Reduced-dose chemotherapy, if implemented before treatment selection, might permit evaluations of QOL in older patients aged ≥80 years; further investigation is warranted.