Daily functioning in glioma survivors: associations with cognitive function, psychological factors and quality of life

AIM: Understanding and supporting quality of life (QoL) and daily functioning in glioma patients is a clinical imperative. In this study, we examined the relationship between cognition, psychological factors, measures of health-related QoL and functioning in glioma survivors. MATERIALS & METHODS: We examined neuropsychological, self-reported cognition, mood and QoL correlates of work and non-work-related daily functioning in 23 glioma survivors, and carried out linear models of the best predictors. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: A total of 13/23 participants were working at the time of enrollment. The best model for worse work-related functioning (R(2) = .83) included worse self-reported cognitive function, depression, loneliness and brain tumor symptoms. The best model for worse non-work-related functioning (R(2) = .61) included worse self-reported cognitive functioning, anxiety, sleep disturbance and physical functioning. Neuropsychological variables were not among the most highly correlated with function. Worse cognitive, particularly self-reported and psychosocial outcomes may compromise optimal functioning in glioma survivors.