Defining Core Concepts for Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients With Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review

Background
There is no consensus on how best to assess the impact of living with mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary syndrome (SS) on a patient's quality of life.

Objectives
To identify all potential concepts that describe disease severity or contribute to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) from patients with MF/SS and their care partners.

Methods
A systemic literature review of articles and meeting abstracts published between 2000 and 2022 was conducted. Inclusion criteria were any study that included MF/SS patients or care partners and reported any concept that patients or care partners could use to characterize any aspect of MF/SS. Thematic analysis was completed using NVIVO.

Results
One hundred and three articles/abstracts met inclusion criteria. Within these studies, 30 existing instruments were utilized. Concepts within these existing instruments fell into the following health component categories: Physical-functional well-being (PF; 50.4%), mental health/emotional well-being (MHE; 26.6%), social well-being (S; 18.3%) or other (O; 4.7%). The most frequently measured concepts by existing instruments were physical mobility (7.5%), itching (7.2%), pain (7.0%) and fatigue (5.2%). One study conducted content validity analysis for an included instrument. Distinct concepts were identified from qualitative studies and novel instruments, and included hair loss, nail changes, cracking/fissuring of the skin, inability to regulate temperature, difficulty with wound dressings, skin infection, skin oozing/weeping/bleeding, pigmentary changes, treatment burden and treatment satisfaction, and care partners' specific concepts. One study conducted content validity analysis for an included instrument.

Conclusions
Numerous PROMs have been used to assess HRQOL for patients with MF/SS, with very little content validity analysis. Several concepts identified from qualitative studies and newly developed or piloted instruments are not represented in existing PROMs. Future efforts will include prioritizing candidate core concepts by stakeholders to develop a core domain set that captures the most relevant aspects of MF/SS that impact HRQOL.

Contributors

Christina Asare, Jennifer Chen, Pragna Naidoo, Caroline Raymundo, Marianne Tawa, Nilufer Khan, Elise Olsen, Rosanne Ottevanger, Julia Scarisbrick, Susan Thornton, Ellen J. Kim, Cecilia Larocca, Michi M. Shinohara, International Dermatology Outcomes Measures (IDEOM) CTCL Workgroup

Publication

Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Volume: 4
Issue: 4
Pages: -
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.1002/jvc2.70039

Further Study Information

Current Stage: Completed
Date:
Funding source(s): The study was supported by and unrestricted grant from Kyowa Kirin and International Dermatology Outcomes Measures


Health Area

Disease Category: Cancer

Disease Name: Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Target Population

Age Range: 18 - 120

Sex: Either

Nature of Intervention: Any

Stakeholders Involved

Study Type

- Patient perspectives

Method(s)

- Systematic review

A systemic literature review of articles and meeting abstracts published between 2000 and 2022 was conducted. Inclusion criteria were any study that included MF/SS patients or care partners and reported any concept that patients or care partners could use to characterize any aspect of MF/SS. Thematic analysis was completed using NVIVO.