Do patients who are treated with stem cell transplantation have a health-related quality of life comparable to the general population after 1 year?
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in leukemia and lymphoma patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy followed by allogeneic (SCT) and autologous (ASCT) stem cell transplantation or receiving combination chemotherapy (CT) was prospectively assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and compared with reference data from a general population sample. One year after transplant, the SCT group had functional scores which were close to population values except for lower social (P < 0.0001) and role function (P = 0.0004). More symptoms and problems were reported, especially appetite loss (P = 0. 001) and financial difficulties (P = 0.0001). The ASCT patients reported a less than optimal HRQOL relative to the population 1 year post transplant. Cognitive, physical, role, and social function, dyspnoea, financial difficulties and global quality of life were most impaired (P < 0.001). In the CT group, physical, role and social function, dyspnoea and financial difficulties were impaired 1 year after start of chemotherapy, compared with the general population (P < 0.001). The EORTC QLQ-C30 was supplemented by a high-dose chemotherapy module, the HDC-19, at the 1-year assessment, but no consistent differences were found across groups. Fifteen to 34% of the patients expressed fears of relapse and worries about future health, while 24-30% indicated no participation in sexual activities.
Hjermstad
M
M
The Norwegian Cancer Society, Oslo, Norway.
Holte
H
H
Evensen
S
S
Fayers
P
P
Kaasa
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors