P07.02.A SEX-SPECIFIC EVALUATION OF EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, UNMET NEEDS AND PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITY IN PATIENTS WITH HIGH-GRADE GLIOMAS - A MULTI-CENTER STUDY

• Published in: Neuro-oncology (Charlottesville, Va.) Va.), 2024-10, Vol.26 (Supplement_5), p.v47-v47
• Main Authors: Renovanz, M, Hippler, M, Kuchen, R, Doerner, L, Rieger, D, Steinbach, J, Ronellenfitsch, M, Kessler, A, Misch, M, Onken, J, Rapp, M, Nadji-Ohl, M, Mehlitz, M, Meixensberger, J, Fehrenbach, M, Keric, N, Ringel, F, Coburger, J, Weiss Lucas, C, Wehinger, J, Schmidt-Graf, F, Gempt, J, Tatagiba, M, Tabatabai, G, Schranz, M, Singer, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1522-8517; 1523-5866
• DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae144.151

Abstract BACKGROUND Patients diagnosed with high-grade gliomas (HGG) often experience considerable emotional distress. However, not all of them actively seek professional psychosocial support even when clearly needed and so far, gender aspects are not considered in clinical routine. We evaluated differences between female and non-female patients regarding emotional functioning and psychiatric comorbidity. METHODS In this multi-center study involving 13 centers, emotional functioning was assessed in patients with high-grade glioma during their visits to the outpatient clinic with the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), using thresholds of clinical importance following Giesinger to define increased problems. Unmet psychosocial care needs were ascertained with study specific questions and psychiatric comorbidity with the Structured Clinical Interview according to DSM (SCID). Analyses employed chi-square tests and multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS In total, 763 patients were enrolled of whom n=691 could be interviewed with the SCID. About half of them (57%, n= 396) were male, 294 (43%) female and 1 (0.1%) identified as diverse. For the following analyses, females were compared with non-females (male and diverse). Emotional functioning was poor in 67% of female and 57% of the non-female patients (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1, p=0.01; adjusted OR=1.4, 95% CI 0.9-2.1, p=0.11). About 22% of the women and 20% of men/diverse expressed the wish for support by a psychologist (p=0.54); additional support by social workers was wished for by 9% of all sexes (p=0.90), and additional emotional support by oncologists from 11% of the women and 6% of the men/diverse. According to the SCID interview, a total of 217 patients (31%, CI 28%-35%) were diagnosed with at least one common mental disorder (male: 115, 29%; female: 102, 35%). There was no evidence that gender was a predictor of comorbid mental disorders (adjusted OR=1.2; 95% CI 0.9-1.8, p=0.25). CONCLUSION Patients diagnosed with a high-grade glioma are at risk of comorbid mental disorders independently of gender though women might express their support needs and emotional problems more openly. Therefore, support should be offered to all genders low-threshold and equally.