Late psychosocial sequelae in Hodgkin's disease survivors: a French population-based case-control study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate late psychosocial sequelae in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in the population of Calvados, France.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-three patients issued from the Calvados General Tumor Registry, treated from 1978 to 1990, free of relapse and second malignancy since January 1991, were enrolled onto cross-sectional case-control study. One hundred eighty-six healthy controls, matched for sex, age, and residency, were selected at random from electoral rolls. Two self-administered questionnaires were mailed in the spring of 1995.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, HD patients reported (1) more physical (P < .001), role (P < .001), and cognitive (P = .015) functioning impairments, as well as dyspnea (P < .001) and chronic fatigue (P = .025), while no statistical difference was found in global health status; (2) to be more often childless (P = .04), fewer divorces or separations (P = .013), fewer changes in relationships with friends (P = .012), similar proportions at work but less ambitious professional plans (P < .001), and greater difficulties in borrowing from banks (P < .001); (3) a slight increase in the number of visits to a general practitioner (P = .05) and greater consumption of medical resources (mainly thyroid extracts, P = .05).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that French long-term HD survivors have good global health status and good psychologic, familial, and professional status, although difficulties in borrowing from banks remain a major limitation in daily life. Although physical, role, and cognitive functioning impairments persist that might limit their activities, HD survivors seem to have learned to cope with problems related to their disease and its treatment.