Late psychosocial sequelae in Hodgkin's disease survivors: a French population-based case-control study.

Abstract

PURPOSETo evaluate late psychosocial sequelae in long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease (HD) in the population of Calvados, France.PATIENTS AND METHODSNinety-three patients issued from the Calvados General Tumor Registry, treated from 1978 to 1990, free of relapse and second malignancy since January 1991, were enrolled onto cross-sectional case-control study. One hundred eighty-six healthy controls, matched for sex, age, and residency, were selected at random from electoral rolls. Two self-administered questionnaires were mailed in the spring of 1995.RESULTSCompared with controls, HD patients reported (1) more physical (P < .001), role (P < .001), and cognitive (P = .015) functioning impairments, as well as dyspnea (P < .001) and chronic fatigue (P = .025), while no statistical difference was found in global health status; (2) to be more often childless (P = .04), fewer divorces or separations (P = .013), fewer changes in relationships with friends (P = .012), similar proportions at work but less ambiti...