Symptom prevalence and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation - A longitudinal observational study.

PURPOSE:The aims of this study are to assess symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associations between symptoms and HRQoL in adult patients with myeloma or lymphoma undergoing autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) during the pre- and post-transplantation phases in the outpatient setting. METHODS:This longitudinal, observational study conducted at a Swiss tertiary care hospital assesses the prevalence, frequency, severity and distress of symptoms, as well as HRQoL prior to hospital admission (T1), within two weeks after hospital discharge (T2) and three months after hospital discharge (T3). The study uses an adapted version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Bone Marrow Transplant. Correlations between symptoms and HRQoL are explored. RESULTS:The total cohort included 47 patients. Participants experienced the highest mean number of symptoms (7.58, SD ± 2.67) within two weeks after hospital discharge. At T1, participants reported a mean of 6.29 (SD ± 2.49) symptoms, and 5.28 (SD ± 2.42) at T3. Lack of energy, numbness/tingling in hands/feet and pain were the most prevalent and distressing symptoms. The overall HRQoL scores varied only moderately (range 0-188); mean HRQoL scores were 142.95 (SD ± 21.06) at T1, 139.87 (SD ± 21.92) at T2 and 147.54 (SD ± 23.27) at T3. No significant correlations were found between symptoms and HRQoL. CONCLUSION:Because of the high symptom prevalence during the first few weeks after hospital discharge, a systematic symptom assessment in this period is needed with the aim of intervening at an early stage and reducing the patient's symptom burden.