Gender disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

UNLABELLED

Patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) often experience debilitating symptoms that impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Existing evidence for HRQoL differences with respect to gender is conflicting.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate potential gender differences in HRQoL for patients with CTCL.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study to assess HRQoL in patients with CTCL by partnering with the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation to distribute an electronic survey from February to April 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 292 patient responses (66% women, mean age 57 years) were included in the analysis. Most of the cohort had early-stage (IA-IIA) (74%; 162/203) mycosis fungoides (MFs) (87%; 241/279), followed by Sézary syndrome (SS) (12%; 33/279). Women with CTCL experienced significantly worse HRQoL compared with men (Skindex-16: 51±26 vs. 36±26, ≤ 0.001; FACT-G: 69±21 vs. 77±16, = 0.005). This gender difference was present even when controlling for stage of disease. Women experienced worse HRQoL in all three of the Skindex-16 subscales (symptoms: β = 14.0, ≤ 0.001; emotions: β = 15.1, ≤ 0.001; functioning: β = 11.3, = 0.006), but only two of the four FACT-G subscales (physical: β =-2.8, ≤ 0.001; emotional: β = -2.0, = 0.004).

LIMITATIONS

Due to the method of distribution of the survey, we were unable to estimate a participant response rate. Participants' diagnosis and stage were self-reported.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort women with CTCL experienced significantly worse HRQoL when compared to men. Additional studies are necessary to determine what factors contribute to this gender disparity.