Gliomas are aggressive brain tumours with diverse histological and molecular features, complicating accurate diagnosis and treatment. Dysregulated lipid metabolism contributes to glioma progression, and analysing lipid profiles in plasma and tissue may enhance diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. This study investigated lipid dysregulation to identify key lipid signatures that distinguish glioma from other brain diseases and examined the associations between lipid biomarkers in glioma tissue and plasma. Biospecimens from 11 controls and 72 glioma patients of varying grades underwent lipidomic profiling using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified differentially abundant lipids, and correlation analysis evaluated the associations between tissue and plasma biomarkers. Lipidomic analysis revealed distinct lipid profiles in the tissues and plasma of glioma patients compared to those of controls. Prominent lipid metabolites in glioma tissues included LPC 21:3 (AUC = 0.925), DG 43:11 (AUC = 0.906), and PC 33:1 (AUC = 0.892), which served as effective biomarkers. Conversely, in plasma, lipid metabolites such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE 21:3, AUC = 0.862), ceramide-1-phosphate (CerP 26:1, AUC = 0.861), and sphingomyelin (SM 24:3, AUC = 0.858) were identified as the most promising lipid biomarkers. Significant positive and negative correlations were observed between the tissue and plasma lipid biomarkers of glioma patients. Lipidomic profiling revealed aberrant lipid classes and pathways in glioma tissues and plasma, enhancing understanding of glioma heterogeneity and potential clinical applications.
Epilepsy is one of the comorbidities often manifested by patients with brain tumors. While there are reviews commenting on the epileptogenicity of brain-tumor-related genes, the reviews are commonly restricted to BRAF, IDH and PIK3CA. According to World Health Organization (WHO), at least 50 genes have been proposed as brain-tumor-related genes. Hence, we aimed to provide a more comprehensive review of the epileptogenicity of the brain-tumor-related genes. We performed an extensive literature search on PubMed, classified the studies, and provided an overview of the associated epilepsy phenotype and epileptogenic mechanism of the brain-tumor-related genes advocated by WHO. Through our analysis, we found a minor overlap between brain-tumor-related genes and epilepsy-associated genes, as some brain-tumor-related genes have been classified as epilepsy-associated genes in earlier studies. Besides reviewing the well-studied genes like TSC1 and TSC2, we identified several under-discovered brain-tumor-related genes, including TP53, CIC, IDH1 and NOTCH1, that warrant future exploration due to the existence of clinical or in vivo evidence substantiating their pathogenic role in epileptogenesis. We also propounded some methodologies that can be applied in future research to enhance the study of the epileptogenic mechanism of brain-tumor-related genes. To date, this article covers the greatest number of brain-tumor-related genes.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a persistent challenge in healthcare, contributing significantly to patient morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Despite advancements in preventive measures, SSIs remain prevalent, especially in countries like Malaysia where rates are higher than in high-income nations. A prospective, cohort study was conducted at the University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), Malaysia, from November 2020 to May 2023. Clinical and microbiological data were collected, and logistic regression were performed to identify risk factors associated with SSIs. A total of 1,815 patients undergoing orthopedic, neurosurgical, and general surgical procedures were monitored for SSIs. The incidence rate of SSIs was 3.23 per 100 procedures (n = 71) with significant associations observed between SSI occurrence and prolonged surgical duration > 100 min, extended hospitalization > 5 days, trauma-to-surgery interval > 8 days, and presence of implants. Common pathogens isolated included Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) were identified in 42.1
Seizures are a common presentation in glioma patients, yet electrographic seizures - subclinical seizure activity detected only on electroencephalography (EEG) are often overlooked due to the lack of routine EEG screening. This case report describes a glioma patient who presented with worsening occipital headaches and cognitive decline but no overt seizures. Preoperative EEG revealed an electrographic seizure originating from the left temporal region, despite the absence of clinical manifestations. The patient underwent surgical resection, and histology confirmed a WHO grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytoma. This case highlights the importance of proactive EEG screening, even in the absence of clinical seizures, as it facilitated early seizure detection and treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of treating electrographic seizures on long-term outcomes in glioma.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a novel marker, the combined lactate glucose ally, it seeks to establish cutoff values for CLGR and evaluate the reliability of measurement using blood gas METHODS: CSF samples were collected from 2 neurosurgical centers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between January 2022 and October 2023. Conventional markers and CLGR were quantified using standard laboratory methods, with BGA utilized for measurement when feasible. Samples were categorized into confirmed CBI-positive (CBI+) and CBI-negative (CBI-) groups. Marker performance was compared, and receiver operlation assessed the agreement between BGA and laboratory measurements. RESULTS: Among the 130 CSF samples, 11 were CBI+. Both cerebrospinal fluid lactate (cLac) and CLGR were significantly elevated in the CBI + group (P< 0.001). The area under the curve for cLac and CLGR was 0.990 and 0.994, respectively. Using a cutoff of 6.0 mmol/L, cLac demonstrated sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.3%, positive predictive value of 57.9%, negative predictive value of 100%, and diagnostic accuracy of 93.9%. CLGR >= 20.0 showed even higher accuracy: 100.0% sensitivity, 98.6% specificity, 84.6% positive predictive value, 100% negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of 98.5%. Both markers maintained excellent performance in bloodstained CSF. BGA measurements correlated well with laboratory results (r [ 0.980 and 0.999, respectively, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CLac levels >= 6.0 mmol/L and CLGR >= 20.0 accurately identified CBI in neurosurgical patients, with CLGR exhibiting superior efficacy. The potential for instant BGA measurement suggests promise for point-of-care testing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges with its impact on patient safety culture and staff well-being. This study was to identify potential changes in safety culture among health care workers from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the differences across occupational groups. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) was administered electronically in both English and Malay languages using the Google Forms platform in 2018 and was repeated in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons were made between 2018 and 2021 to determine changes in patient safety culture for the overall staff population and by occupational groups. A total of 3175 health care workers completed the questionnaire in 2021. Overall, a comparable percentage agreement was found for all SAQ domains in 2018 and 2021 with visible improvements for doctors and support staff. Safety Attitudes Questionnaire domain scores differed in teamwork, safety climate, perception of hospital management, and working condition domains across occupational groups. Self-isolation and COVID-19 were associated with poorer SAQ domain scores, while redeployment was associated with improvements in SAQ domain scores. Interventions targeting areas of weakness as well as utilizing positive experiences such as redeployment should be explored to enhance patient safety in hospitals settings postpandemic.
Objectives: The location of the brain tumor in the frontal or temporal lobes has been reported as a predictor for seizure occurrence in patients with a brain tumor but the predictive value of other locations is uncertain. We aimed to ascertain the pooled prevalence of pre-operative seizures in relation to the brain tumor locations, by employing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The search was conducted up to 1st May 2023, in Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science and references were exported and managed using EndNote 20. Articles were included if they reported a prevalence or incidence of the seizure at the tumor location. MetaXL by Epigear was used to generate the meta-analysis. Results: The pooled prevalence for preoperative seizures in gliomas was 51–63% in most locations (frontal, temporal, parietal, and insula) but lowest in the occipital lobe (28%). Subgroup analysis on low-grade gliomas showed a high pre-operative seizure prevalence in all locations: frontal lobe [75% (95% CI: 68–81%)], temporal lobe [73% (95% CI: 63–82%)], parietal lobe [79% (95% CI: 57–82%)], occipital lobe [46% (95% CI: 0–95%)], and insular [76% (95% CI: 65–77%)]. In the astrocytoma and meningioma subanalysis, the pooled prevalence is ≥ 40% in most cortical location. In brain metastases, the pooled prevalence was similar in most locations (18–39%), lowest in the temporal lobe. Conclusion: Tumor location is not the main influencing factor for pre-operative seizure independent from tumor type. Extensive seizure screening should be considered irrespective of tumor location, especially in those with low-grade gliomas.
Objective: Cognitive deficits in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can persist over three months, and symptomatic patients may not be readily diagnosed. Although diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect microstructural white matter tract (WMT) changes in mTBI, the underlying recovery process is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate WMT changes at 3 months post-mTBI between cognitively recovered (REC) and non-recovered (NREC) mTBI subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). Methods: Fifty-seven mTBI subjects were divided into REC (n=16) and NREC (n=41) groups. Ten healthy controls (HC) were recruited. assessed at baseline and three months before subjects were classified as REC and NREC. DTI and NODDI parameters of 50 ROIs corresponding to WMTs were compared between REC, NREC and HC. Results: NODDI detected more significant changes (p<0.05) in multiple ROIs than DTI. Lower Neurite Density Index (NDI) was demonstrated in REC versus NREC at multiple ROIs. Increased Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI) and decreased Isotropic Volume Fraction (ISOVF) were detected at several WMTs in both groups. Conclusion: Reduced NDI in the overall mTBI cohort suggests axonal degeneration post-trauma. We postulate that at three months' timeline, there is a combination of axonal degeneration and astrogliosis, which is more extensive in NREC than REC.
•Seizure occurrence is not uncommon in thalamic tumours without cortical involvement.•The pooled prevalence of seizures in thalamic tumors without cortical involvement was 17.0%.•Thalamus could be an independent primary seizure generator.
Objective: We aimed to determine the cumulative seizure occurrence, 1-year, and 5-years of preoperative seizures in gliomas, and an update on the predictors. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 239 patients with histopathologically confirmed gliomas in University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, between 2008-2020. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to determine the cumulative incidence of seizures. Logistic regression was performed to determine the predictors of preoperative seizures. Results: A total of 80/239 patients (33.5%) had preoperative seizures. They were more commonly seen in those with younger age of presentation (40.0% in those <40 years old vs. 26.9% in ≥40 years old, p<0.05) and low-grade tumors (42.2% vs. 28.8% in high-grade tumors). Those with cortical involvement, especially the frontal lobe, or without focal deficit, headache, nausea, or vomiting were more likely to have seizures preoperatively. Logistic regression identified three significant predictors for preoperative seizure: absence of focal deficits at presentation (OR 6.090, 95% CI 3.110-11.925, p<0.001), cortical location (OR 3.834, 95% CI 1.363-10.786, p<0.05) and absence of headache at presentation (OR 2.487, 95% CI 1.139-5.431, p<0.05). The cumulative incidence of seizure was 29% at one year and 32% at 5-year for gliomas. Specifically, the seizure incidence was higher in low-grade gliomas (39% at 1-year) and certain tumor types such as ganglioglioma (50%), oligodendroglioma (48%), and astrocytoma (45%). Conclusion: The cumulative incidence of preoperative seizures in low-grade gliomas and certain tumor types is high. The predictors included cortical involvement and absence of focal neurological deficit or headache at presentation.
Successful implementation of environmentally sustainable practices in the operating theatre (OT) requires stakeholder engagement. We evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of OT users in our institution towards sustainable practices in the OT. A survey was conducted among OT users in August 2022. Respondents completed a 44-question anonymised online survey covering sustainability in (1) knowledge, (2) attitude, (3) practice, and (4) proposed changes to current practices. Points were assigned to knowledge (15 points) and attitude (40 points) sections. Practice was evaluated based on proportion of measures practiced. Appropriate statistical tests were used, with significance p < 0.05. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or proportion (
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Background:The aim of this study was to create a simplistic taxonomy to improve transparency and consistency in, and reduce complexity of, interpreting diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) profiles in white matter disruption. Using a novel strategy of a periodic table of DTI elements, we examined if DTI profiles could demonstrate neural properties of disruption sufficient to characterize white matter changes specific for hydrocephalus vs. non-hydrocephalus, and to distinguish between cohorts of neural injury by their differing potential for reversibility.Methods:DTI datasets from three clinical cohorts representing pathological milestones from reversible to irreversible brain injury were compared to those of healthy controls at baseline, over time and with interventions. The final dataset comprised patients vs. controls in the following groupings: mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), n = 24 vs. 27, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), n = 16 vs. 9 and Alzheimer's disease (AD), n = 27 vs. 47. We generated DTI profiles from fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean, axial and radial diffusivity measures (MD, L1 and L2 and 3 respectively), and constructed an algorithm to map changes consistently to a periodic table of elements, which fully described their diffusivity and neural properties.Results:Mapping tissue signatures to a periodic table of DTI elements rapidly characterized cohorts by their differing patterns of injury. At baseline, patients with mTBI displayed the most preserved tracts. In NPH, the magnitude of changes was dependent on "familial" DTI neuroanatomy, i.e., potential for neural distortion from risk of ventriculomegaly. With time, patients with Alzheimer's disease were significantly different to controls across multiple measures. By contrast, patients with mTBI showed both loss of integrity and pathophysiological processes of neural repair. In NPH, some patterns of injury, such as "stretch/compression" and "compression" were more reversible following intervention than others; these neural profile properties suggested "microstructural resilience" to injury.Conclusion:Using the novel strategy of a periodic table of DTI elements, our study has demonstrated it is possible to distinguish between different cohorts along the spectrum of brain injury by describing neural profile properties of white matter disruption. Further work to contribute datasets of disease toward this proposed taxonomic framework would enhance the translatability of DTI profiles to the clinical-research interface.
Purpose Seizures are a common presenting symptom among patients with low- and high-grade glioma. However, the impact and inter-relationship between the presence of seizures, anti-seizure medication (ASM) and survival are unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of seizures and identified the pattern and relationship of anti-seizure medication on survival in our cohort of patients with glioma. Methods We evaluated all glioma patients who underwent treatment at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) between 2008 and 2020. Demographic and clinical data of seizures and pattern of ASM administration in comparison to overall survival were analyzed. Results A total of 235 patients were studied, with a minimum of one year clinical follow-up post-treatment. The median survival for low-grade glioma was 38 months whereas high-grade glioma was 15 months. One-third of our glioma patients (n = 74) presented with seizures. All patients with seizures and a further 31% of patients without seizures were started on anti-seizure medication preoperatively. Seizure and Levetiracetam (LEV) were significantly associated with OS on univariate analysis. However, only LEV (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.23-0.87; p=0.02) was significantly associated with improving overall survival (OS) on multivariate analysis. Once ASM was adjusted for relevant factors and each other, LEV was associated with improved survival in all grade gliomas (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.31-0.88; p=0.02) and specifically high-grade gliomas (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.30-0.94; p=0.03). Conclusions Pre-operative seizures among patients with glioma indicated a better overall prognosis. The administration of ASM, specifically LEV was associated with a significant survival advantage in our retrospective cohort of patients.
Background: Consent is an important component of surgical care. Poorly attempted consent bears significant ethical and legal implications. We assessed the effectiveness of handouts in improving postoperative consent understanding and recall compared to standard verbal consent during laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a tool that may improve information retention and leads to better treatment satisfaction. Methods: This is a prospective block randomized, non-blinded study conducted at a single tertiary hospital. Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between August 2017 and October 2018 were recruited and randomized into Handout Assisted Consent (HC) and Verbal Consent (VC) group. The HC group was given an adjunct handout on laparoscopic cholecystectomy during consent process in addition to the standard verbal consent. A validated open-ended verbal understanding and recall questionnaire was administered to all patients in both groups at Day 1, 30 and 90 after surgery. Patient satisfaction of the consent process was evaluated with Likert scale. Results: A total of 79 patients were enrolled, 41 patients and 38 patients in VC and HC groups respectively. Level of understanding among patients were equal and consistent across time in both groups (P > 0.05). There was significant decline (P < 0.0001) for both groups in ability to recall information between Day 1 to Day 30 and Day 30 to Day 90. A slightly higher satisfaction rate was found among patients that received HC (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There is good consistent understanding of the surgery in both groups. However, recall of specific surgical consent items decreased significantly over time in both groups. Handouts may have increased satisfaction among patients but did not improve recall in this preliminary study. Trial registration: MREC No.:201783-5468. (c) 2021 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Scottish charity number SC005317) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Background: Up to 73.0% of patients with bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (BTLE) on scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) were found to have unilateral temporal seizure onset via invasive EEG monitoring (iEEG) and 58% of them achieved good surgical outcome. However, iEEG in resource- limited countries is limited by cost. We aimed to present the surgical outcome of a simplified and cost- effective 2-electrode bilateral hippocampal depth implantation strategy in 7 cases with bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy based on scalp EEG and unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Methods: Total 7 cases who underwent epilepsy surgery were reviewed. All patients underwent 2-stage evaluation of video-EEG monitoring followed by intracranial monitoring. A simplified 2-depth electrode implantation strategy was used, targeting the bilateral anterior hippocampus. Results: All 7 patients had interictal bilateral independent temporal epileptiform discharges. Four had bilateral temporal ictal onset on scalp EEG and 3 with ictal onset contralateral to the MTS. With iEEG, 4 patients (57.1%) were confirmed to be unilateral TLE, concordant with the MTS, and 3 patients (42.9%) had true BTLE. All 7 patients underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, ipsilateral to the side of MTS. Four patients (57.1%) achieved Engel I surgical outcome, of which 3/4 (75.0%) were patients with unilateral TLE. For those with true BTLE, 2/3 (66.7%) achieved favourable surgical outcome (Engel I and II). Conclusions: This simplified two-electrode implantation strategy is effective in lateralization of TLE in patients with BTLE and more affordable to those in resource-limited countries.
Objective Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a well-known phenomenon among breast cancer survivors. Cognitive impairment among breast cancer survivors can significantly affect their quality of life and ability to function independently. However, there is a lack of specific and focused cognitive intervention to improve their cognitive performances. This study aimed to develop a tailored cognitive intervention framework module by adapting the attention and memory interventions from the Cognitive Rehabilitation Manual of the Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group (BI-SIG) of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and incorporating them with the relevant exercises for cognitive rehabilitation for Malaysian breast cancer survivors with CRCI based on the consensus agreement of the expert panel. Methods and analysis The Delphi consensus technique was conducted online to review and evaluate the framework module. A panel of experts, including rehabilitation medicine physicians, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists in Malaysia, was invited to participate in this study. For each round, the expert consensus was defined as more than 90% of the expert panel agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposed items. Results A total of 33 practitioners completed the three Delphi rounds. 72.7% of the expert panel have been practising in their relevant clinical fields for more than six years (M = 10.67, SD = 5.68). In Round 1, 23% of the experts suggested that the framework module for attention training required further improvements, specifically in the language (M = 1.97, SD = 0.75) and instructions (M = 2.03, SD = 0.71) provided. In Round 2, 15% of the experts recommended additional changes in the instruction (M = 2.15, SD = 0.67) for attention training. Amendments made to the framework module in line with the recommendations provided by the experts resulted in a higher level of consensus, as 94% to 100% of the experts in Round 3 concluded the framework module was suitable and comprehensive for our breast cancer survivors. Following the key results, the objectives were practical, and the proposed approaches, strategies, and techniques for attention and memory training were feasible. The clarity of the instructions, procedures, verbatim transcripts, and timeframe further enhanced the efficacy and utility of the framework module. Conclusions This study found out that the cognitive intervention framework module for breast cancer survivors with cognitive impairment following chemotherapy can be successfully developed and feasible to be implemented using Delphi technique.
Objectives: Prevalence of seizures in brain tumors vary substantially between studies even with similar histo-pathological types. We aimed to identify the seizure prevalence of the commonest types of brain tumors.Methods: Systematic computerized search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were performed. The meta -analysis of pooled prevalence and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for tumor-related seizures were calculated by using a random effect model. Based on the 2014 epilepsy definition, a mean seizure prevalence of 60 % is used to indicate high seizure prevalence in this study.Results: 74 studies that reported seizure prevalence with 23,116 patients were included in this meta-analysis. These tumors has higher seizure incidence rate (at least 60 %) with pooled prevalence of 63 % for adult with low-grade astrocytoma (95 % CI: 57-68 %), 65 % for oligodendroglioma (95% CI: 57-72 %), 72 % for oli-goastrocytoma (95 % CI: 67-77 %), 81 % for ganglioglioma (95 % CI: 66-97 %) and 94 % for DNET (94 % CI: 83-100 %).Conclusion: This study highlights the type of brain tumors that carry a high seizure prevalence. Screening for subtle seizures and early management of seizures may be beneficial in patients with low-grade astrocytoma (adult), oligodendroglioma, oligoastrocytoma, ganglioglioma or DNET brain tumor.
Objective:Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological condition characterized by a clinical triad of gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and urinary incontinence in conjunction with ventriculomegaly. Other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and vascular dementia share some overlapping clinical features. However, there is evidence that patients with comorbid NPH and Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease may still exhibit good clinical response after CSF diversion. This study aims to evaluate clinical responses after ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) in a cohort of patients with coexisting NPH and neurodegenerative disease.Methods:The study has two components; (i) a pilot study was performed that specifically focused upon patients with Complex NPH and following the inclusion of the Complex NPH subtype into consideration for the clinical NPH programme, (ii) a retrospective snapshot study was performed to confirm and characterize differences between Classic and Complex NPH patients being seen consecutively over the course of 1 year within a working subspecialist NPH clinic. We studied the characteristics of patients with Complex NPH, utilizing clinical risk stratification and multimodal biomarkers.Results:There was no significant difference between responders and non-responders to CSF diversion on comorbidity scales. After VPS insertion, significantly more Classic NPH patients had improved cognition compared to Complex NPH patients (p = 0.005). Improvement in gait and urinary symptoms did not differ between the groups. 26% of the Classic NPH group showed global improvement of the triad, and 42% improved in two domains. Although only 8% showed global improvement of the triad, all Complex NPH patients improved in gait.Conclusions:Our study has demonstrated that the presence of neurodegenerative disorders co-existing with NPH should not be the sole barrier to the consideration of high-volume tap test or lumbar drainage via a specialist NPH programme. Further characterization of distinct cohorts of NPH with differing degrees of CSF responsiveness due to overlay from neurodegenerative or comorbidity risk burden may aid toward more precise prognostication and treatment strategies. We propose a simplistic conceptual framework to describe NPH by its Classic vs. Complex subtypes to promote the clinical paradigm shift toward subspecialist geriatric neurosurgery by addressing needs for rapid screening tools at the clinical-research interface.
Purpose Health-related quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in breast cancer management. Evidence of QoL of breast cancer patients in lower and middle-income countries remains scarce. We examined the level of QoL, cognitive impairment, psychological distresses, and the predictors of QoL among multiethnic Malaysian early-stage breast cancer survivors 1 to 3 years following chemotherapy. Methods A total of 160 breast cancer survivors from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) participated in this cross-sectional study. Their QoL was evaluated with the Malay version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) version 3.0. Cognitive functioning and psychological distress were evaluated using the Malay version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BM) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. Data analysis was performed with Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results At 1- to 3-year post-chemotherapy, the mean EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status of the breast cancer survivors was relatively low (60.5 over 100, SD = 10.88). One-third (31.9%) of them demonstrated cognitive impairment, and another 3.2% showed moderate to severe anxiety levels. The significant predictors for global health status and functioning included age, psychological distresses, cognitive performance, fatigue, appetite loss, insomnia, pain, and constipation. Conclusion Our breast cancer survivors demonstrated poor global health status. Health care providers and policymakers must strive to provide holistic intervention strategies to improve the multiple dimensions of QoL and the cognitive and psychological functioning of this vulnerable population.