Quality of life of adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancer in Europe-A systematic review

Advances in diagnostics and treatment of childhood cancer during the past few decades have substantially increased survival, resulting in a growing population of survivors of childhood cancer. Somatic and mental late effects of the cancer and the treatment may impact the quality of life (QoL). Previous reviews of QoL in survivors of childhood cancer have shown contradictory findings across studies and the majority of studies included have been based on data from North America and may not be directly comparable to a European setting. The aim of our study was to critically evaluate and summarise the latest evidence on the QoL of childhood cancer survivors in Europe and to identify survivors at particular risk. The eligible studies were published between 2008 and 2022, conducted in Europe and included participants who had survived at least 5 years after diagnosis of a childhood cancer. The main outcome of interest was QoL of survivors which was measured with validated qualitative and quantitative QoL questionnaires. A systematic literature search conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINALH resulted in inclusion of 36 articles with a total of 14 342 survivors of childhood cancer. The majority of included studies found that childhood cancer survivors reported poorer QoL than comparisons. Female gender, treatment with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and a brain tumour diagnosis were associated with lower QoL. With a growing population of childhood cancer survivors with many years ahead of them, targeted interventions and optimal follow-up care are important to improve the QoL of survivors.

Automated summary

Advances in diagnostics and treatment have increased the survival of childhood cancer patients, leading to a growing population of survivors. The quality of life (QoL) of survivors, affected by somatic and mental late effects, has been subject to contradictory findings in studies. This study critically evaluated and summarized the latest evidence on QoL of childhood cancer survivors in Europe, identifying risk factors and highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and optimal follow-up care to improve their QoL.