The burden of symptoms and quality of life of filipino patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm: A multicenter cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Mesina Flordeluna Z. , Dumagay Teresita E. , Alejandria Marissa M. 
Published: July 2024

Background

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are hematologic malignancies characterized by cellular proliferation of one or more hematopoietic cell lines. Management has been focused on blood count control but addressing relief from symptoms and providing a better quality of life (QOL) are equally important in the care of these patients. The MPN Symptom Assessment Form‐Total Symptom Score (MPN‐SAF TSS) is used to determine symptoms at baseline and during treatment. Understanding the symptom burden is important in developing a holistic management plan for MPN. Hence, this study aimed to determine the symptom burden and QOL of Filipino patients with MPN.

Methodology

Using a validated Filipino version of the MPN‐SAF‐TSS questionnaire and the University of the Philippines‐Department of Health QOL (UP‐DOH QOL) questionnaire, a cross‐sectional survey of consecutive patients with MPN from two public and two private tertiary hospitals was conducted. We purposively sampled adults, newly diagnosed or previously diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), or myelofibrosis (MF). The mean scores were compared with the type of MPN using analysis of variance. Linear regression was done to determine the association of patients' characteristics to the mean symptom burden and QOL scores, while logistic regression was used to determine the association of patient and disease characteristics with the level of symptom severity and QOL.

Results

A total of 167 (63 PV, 66 ET, and 38 MF) patients were surveyed from four centers. The mean overall symptom burden score was 24.41 (standard deviation [SD] = 18.91) with MF having the highest score at 28.53, followed by PV at 23.75 and ET at 22.67. The majority (80.24%) had a high QOL with a mean global QoL score of 84.92 (SD = 16.75). Comparison of individual scores showed bone pain and weight loss were significantly higher in patients with MF compared to PV (p = 0.0002) and ET (p = 0.032); while pruritus was significantly higher in PV compared to ET and MF (p = 0.043). Logistic regression analysis showed female sex and being newly diagnosed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.32–54.25) were associated with high symptom burden while having a controlled blood count (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.10–0.71) was associated with low symptom burden and high QOL.

Conclusion

The majority of the participants were symptomatic with moderate to severe symptom burden. While no statistically significant difference was seen among the three types of MPN in terms of overall mean symptom score, patients with MF were more likely to have a severe symptom burden while patients with ET had the least symptoms. Despite having symptoms, QOL was regarded as high. QoL was significantly higher among those with PV or ET than those with MF. Our study highlighted the utility of a validated symptom scoring system in determining the symptom burden and who would benefit from pharmacologic/non‐pharmacologic symptom management. Results emphasized incorporating symptom scoring in clinical practice and going beyond blood counts in caring for our patients with MPN.