Health-related quality of life of Brazilian children and adolescents with benign and malignant solid tumours: A prospective cohort study during the first year after hospital admission.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to assess the impact of paediatric benign and malignant solid tumours and its treatment on the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents who were followed up in a Reference Center in Pediatric Oncology in Rio de Janeiro.

METHODS: It is a prospective cohort study. Quality of life assessment was performed using the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales and PedsQL™ 3.0 Cancer Module protocols three times: during hospital admission (T1), 6 months after admission (T2) and 1 year after admission (T3).

RESULTS: We evaluated 132 patients, 59 men and 73 women, aged 2-17 years. In PedsQL™4.0, the Emotional Functioning scale was the one with the worst scores, while the scores on the Social Functioning scale was the best. In PedsQL™ 3.0, the worst domains were Procedural Anxiety and Worry. Patients with malignant bone tumours had the worst health-related quality of life. The group who received only surgery had better results. Total scores of PedsQL™4.0 and PedsQL™ 3.0 improved between T1 and T3.

CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with malignant and benign neoplasms undergo changes in quality of life as a result of the disease and treatment, but an improvement has been observed over time.