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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Research / Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life · Journal article
BMC Pediatrics · August 8, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
This cross-sectional study of 86 Saudi children with acute leukaemia receiving active treatment identifies physical function, treatment intensity, female gender, older age, and higher parental education as independent correlates of HRQoL, explaining 70.1% of variance. The findings are descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than causal, but suggest actionable targets for supportive care in paediatric leukaemia management.
Descriptive cross-sectional observational study. Children aged 5–14 years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or acute myeloid leukaemia receiving active treatment; diagnosed at least 3 months before enrolment; enrolled at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.. Intervention: Observational assessment of HRQoL using PedsQL 3.0 Cancer Module, physical function using Quick-DASH and LEFS, and collection of demographic and clinical data.. n = 86. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (single centre).
Mean overall HRQoL score was 62.7 ± 16.5 (moderate level) Female gender independently predicted higher HRQoL (β = 0.270, 95% CI: 4.457–13.241, p < 0.001) Older age independently predicted higher HRQoL (β = 0.229, 95% CI: 1.951–7.986, p = 0.002)
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These findings suggest that physical rehabilitation (lower-extremity function) and treatment de-escalation or supportive measures may be modifiable targets to improve HRQoL in children with leukaemia. Clinicians should incorporate functional assessment and multidisciplinary supportive care into management, particularly for boys, younger children, and those receiving intensive therapy.
A single-centre cross-sectional study identifying modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with HRQoL in paediatric leukaemia using validated instruments and multivariable regression, with moderate sample size and substantial explained variance, but lacking a comparator or control group.
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These findings suggest that physical rehabilitation (lower-extremity function) and treatment de-escalation or supportive measures may be modifiable targets to improve HRQoL in children with leukaemia. Clinicians should incorporate functional assessment and multidisciplinary supportive care into management, particularly for boys, younger children, and those receiving intensive therapy.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Abstract Background/objective Leukemia and its treatment can substantially impair children’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate HRQoL among Saudi children with leukemia and to identify the demographic, clinical, and functional factors associated with HRQoL. Methods Eighty-six children aged 5–14 years with acute lymphoblastic or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were receiving active treatment at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All participants had been diagnosed at least three months before enrolment and were receiving active treatment. HRQoL was assessed using the Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) 3.0 Cancer Module, while physical function was evaluated using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH) questionnaire and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Correlations and theory-driven multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with HRQoL. Results The mean overall HRQoL score was 62.7 ± 16.5, indicating a moderate level of HRQoL. The lowest scores were observed for procedural anxiety, whereas communication had the highest domain score. Girls demonstrated significantly higher HRQoL than boys.Multiple linear regression identified female gender (β = 0.270, 95% CI: 4.457–13.241, p < 0.001), older age (β = 0.229, 95% CI: 1.951–7.986, p = 0.002), higher educational level (β = 0.239, 95% CI: 1.933–7.437, p = 0.001), and better lower-extremity function measured by the LEFS (β = 0.307, 95% CI: 0.142–0.434, p < 0.001) as significant positive predictors of higher HRQoL, whereas more intensive cancer therapy was independently associated with lower HRQoL (β = −0.211, 95% CI: −8.808 to − 1.922, p = 0.003). The model explained 70.1% of the variance in HRQoL (R² = 0.701; adjusted R² = 0.665; F(9,76) = 19.753, p < 0.001). Conclusions HRQoL in children with leukemia was independently associated with physical function, cancer treatment, and several sociodemographic characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating functional assessment and multidisciplinary supportive care into the management of children with leukemia to optimize HRQoL.
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