Health status in 52 long-term survivors of pediatric brain tumors

The percentage of children who survive childhood brain tumors is increasing . A number have neurological and other sequelae which impact on the quality of their survival. We reviewed long-term survivors using a standardized he alth status instrument. The mothers of 52 survivors of brain tumors were su rveyed. Eight different aspects (attributes) of health status were scored. The first 6 of these attributes were scored in a health status index (HSI) developed at McMaster University. Subgroup analysis was performed. Limitati on in the quality of life was found in one of the 8 attributes in all but 2 of the subjects. The health status index (HSI) score using the first 6 att ributes of this survey had a median of 0.73 (range 0.16-1.00). This score i s lower than that found in previously surveyed survivors of leukemia or oth er childhood cancers. Examination of age at diagnosis, extent of surgery, s ex and therapeutic modalities used showed no correlation with HSI score. Th ose with supratentorial astrocytomas had a lower HSI score (0.65) than thos e with infratentorial astrocytomas (0.85) (p = 0.05). Children with craniop haryngiomas had a poor score (0.64). This survey shows that the survivors o f brain tumors have an appreciable burden of morbidity. Most have deficits in health status that affect many areas of their lives. Apart from site of the primary tumor, there was little correlation between subgroups studied a nd health status. The health status of children who survive brain tumors is lower than that of survivors of other childhood malignancies.