The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF): international prospective validation and reliability trial in 402 patients

Blood. 2011 Jul 14;118(2):401-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-01-328955. Epub 2011 May 2.

Abstract

Symptomatic burden in myeloproliferative neoplasms is present in most patients and compromises quality of life. We sought to validate a broadly applicable 18-item instrument (Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form [MPN-SAF], coadministered with the Brief Fatigue Inventory) to assess symptoms of myelofibrosis, essential thrombocythemia, and polycythemia vera among prospective cohorts in the United States, Sweden, and Italy. A total of 402 MPN-SAF surveys were administered (English [25%], Italian [46%], and Swedish [28%]) in 161 patients with essential thrombocythemia, 145 patients with polycythemia vera, and 96 patients with myelofibrosis. Responses among the 3 administered languages showed great consistency after controlling for MPN subtype. Strong correlations existed between individual items and key symptomatic elements represented on both the MPN-SAF and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30. Enrolling physicians' blinded opinion of patient symptoms (6 symptoms assessed) were highly correlated with corresponding patients' responses. Serial administration of the English MPN-SAF among 53 patients showed that most MPN-SAF items are well correlated (r > 0.5, P < .001) and highly reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.7). The MPN-SAF is a comprehensive and reliable instrument that is available in multiple languages to evaluate symptoms associated with all types of MPNs in clinical trials globally.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone Marrow Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Internationality
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Records
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • United States / epidemiology