Description
About 85% of persons with Hodgkin Lymphoma are alive five years after diagnosis and many live well past 40 years. This lengthy survival time may allow late effects of treatment to develop including depression, fatigue, physical complications and anxiety, all of which can influence health-related quality of life. This cross-sectional study assessed the associations of physical activity, life satisfaction, and emotional support to health-related quality of life in Hodgkin Lymphoma survivors. The sample of 365 Hodgkin Lymphoma survivors was gathered from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Health-related quality of life was measured using frequent activity limitation, frequent mental and physical distress and frequent unhealthy days. Controlling for income, demographics, and co-morbidities, a weighted multivariable logistic regression model showed that life satisfaction was most strongly associated with health-related quality of life. Those survivors who reported being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with life were more likely to experience frequent activity limitation (Odds Ratio [OR] 36.5, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 5.4-245.3), frequent physical distress (OR 16.5, 95% CI 3.9-68.9), frequent mental distress (OR 18.2, 95% CI 5.3-62.1), and frequent unhealthy days (OR 39.9, 95% CI 9.8-254.4) compared to those who reported being very satisfied with life. Physical activity was also significantly associated with frequent physical distress and frequent activity limitation. Compared to physically active survivors, those who reported being physically inactive were more likely to experience frequent activity limitation (OR 10.1, 95% CI 2.3-44.2) and frequent physical distress (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.5-12.5). Emotional support was not associated with health-related quality of life. In sum, life dissatisfaction and physical inactivity were associated with poorer health-related quality of life in this population of Hodgkin Lymphoma survivors. These results may suggest the need for long-term comprehensive survivorship plans that focus primarily on improving life satisfaction and physical activity.
