title: Predictors of health-related quality of life in patients treated with auto- and allo-SCT for hematological malignancies.
abstract: Identifying factors that predict health-related quality of life (QOL) following hematopoietic SCT, is important in estimating patients' abilities to adjust to the consequences of their disease and treatment. As the studies that have been published on this subject are scattered, the present study aimed to systematically review prognostic factors for health-related QOL after auto- and allo-SCT in hematological malignancies. A systematic, computerized search in Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library was conducted from 2002 to June 2010. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using an adaptation of Hayden's criteria list. Qualitative data synthesis was performed to determine the strength of the scientific evidence. In all, 35 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Strong-moderate evidence was found for GVHD, conditioning regimen, being female, younger age, receiving less social support and pre-transplant psychological distress as predictors of various aspects of health-related QOL following hematopoietic SCT. The results of this review may help transplant teams in selecting patients at risk for experiencing a diminished health-related QOL following hematopoietic SCT. Follow-up treatment can be provided in order to promote QOL.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.braamse@vumc.nl
authors: A M J
authors: AM
authors: Braamse
authors: M M J G
authors: MM
authors: Gerrits
authors: B
authors: B
authors: van Meijel
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Visser
authors: P
authors: P
authors: van Oppen
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Boenink
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cuijpers
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Huijgens
authors: A T F
authors: AT
authors: Beekman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous