Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescent and Young Adult-Aged Childhood Cancer Survivors in a South African Cohort: A Pilot Study Using the Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument

Purpose: We investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of an adolescent and young adult (AYA)-aged South African childhood cancer survivor (CCS) cohort. Methods: Participants completed the Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life adolescent and adult forms. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.81 (adolescent form) and 0.92 (adult form). The scale-level content validity indexes were acceptable (0.88 and 0.89 for the adolescent and adult forms, respectively). The total domain and overall HRQoL scores were calculated. Results: Sixty-two survivors completed the adolescent form and 30 completed the adult form. The median age was 17.5 years (range 13-34 years), and the median time from diagnosis was 12 years (male:female ratio 1:1.2). Risk factors for poor physical functioning included age at study visit (p = 0.015), solid tumor diagnosis (p = 0.012), radiotherapy (p = 0.021), and surgery (p = 0.006). Six or more late effects impacted most domains negatively; severe late effects (p = 0.020) decreased physical functioning. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with poorer physical (p = 0.006) and cognitive (p = 0.047) functioning. The adult form cohort had poorer psychological (p = 0.014) and social functioning (p = 0.005) and body image (p = 0.016) than the adolescent form cohort. Conclusion: Older age, radiotherapy, surgery, solid tumor diagnosis, and the number and severity of late effects negatively influenced HRQoL in AYA-aged CCSs. A long-term follow-up (LTFU) risk stratification system should include HRQoL status to assist with holistic LTFU care.