Abstract
Information is limited on the impact of glioblastoma (GBM) on patient employment and caregiver time commitments. This observational multisite study evaluated the impact of GBM on patients’ employment and on caregivers’ ability to work and perform daily activities. A total of 180 adults diagnosed with GBM and their caregivers were stratified across 4 groups representing specific stages in the disease course: Group 1=newly diagnosed; 2=postradiation; 3=stable disease; 4=recurrence. We assessed the impact of GBM on employment status and self-reported cognitive function in patients (EORTC QLQ-C30) and in caregivers (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire). Prior to diagnosis, 64% of all patients (74% < 65 years old) were employed, while only 22% (26% for those < 65 years old) were employed after diagnosis. Though not reaching significance, newly diagnosed patients and those with stable disease reported higher mean cognitive function scores (72.0 and 71.9) than other groups (61.1 and 61.3; P=0.227). At study enrollment, 56% of all caregivers were employed, while 41% had left their jobs to care for their patients. The impact on caregiver work productivity varied with a higher percentage of caregivers of newly diagnosed patients and those with recurrent disease missing work (45% and 24%, respectively) and experiencing work impairment (54% and 36%, respectively) than the other groups (P< 0.05). Forty-one percent of caregivers of newly diagnosed patients to 25% of patients with stable disease reported impairment of daily activities. GBM had a significant impact on patient and caregiver employment from the time of diagnosis. High cognitive burden among patients might have impacted their employment. Overall work and activity impairment for caregivers was evident in all groups with a notable impact at the time of first diagnosis and recurrence of disease. Future studies will explore the impact of these findings in a longitudinal cohort.
EVALUATION OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED IDIOPATHIC EPILEPTIC PATIENTS
