CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of selected psychosocial, health and demographic characteristics of quality of life (QOL) among patients treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a retrospective study at Charles University Hospital, Hradec Kralove. METHODS: The Czech version of the international generic European Quality-of-Life questionnaire (EQ-5D) was applied to evaluate QOL among patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and malignant Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (ML). The total number of respondents was 36: 12 with AML (seven males and five females) and 24 with ML (11 males and 13 females). The mean age of AML respondents was 46 years and the mean age of ML respondents was 44.5 years. RESULTS: Age, smoking status and education level had statistically significant effects on QOL among AML respondents (p < 0.05), and age had a statistically significant effect on QOL among ML respondents (p < 0.05). The overall QOL among AML and ML respondents was generally good: the mean EQ-5D score among AML respondents was 71.5% and among ML respondents it was 82.7%. CONCLUSION: The QOL among AML and ML respondents treated with autologous HSCT was good. However, patients more than 50 years old, smokers and patients with lower education levels presented worse QOL. These findings need to be better evaluated in longitudinal studies, using large samples.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:: O transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) é um método a ser utilizado na terapêutica das doenças hemato-oncológicas e tumores sólidos, assim como no tratamento de doenças não-malignas. O TCTH tem influência na evolução da doença e na qualidade de vida do doente, assim como outros métodos curativos. TIPO ESTUDO E LOCAL:: Este estudo é retrospectivo. Foi desenvolvido no Departamento Clínico de Hematologia do 2o Departamento de Medicina Interna do Hospital da Universidade de Charles em Hradec Kralove, República Checa. MÉTODOS:: Amostra de 36 adultos sujeitos ao tratamento com transplante autólogo de células tronco do progenitor, sendo 12 com leucemia mielóide aguda: sete homens e cinco mulheres, e 24 com linfoma maligno: 11 homens e 13 mulheres. Foi utilizada a versão checa do questionário internacional de qualidade de vida européia versão EQ – 5D. RESULTADOS:: Houve associação estastiticamente significante entre qualidade de vida e idade, fumantes, pacientes com baixo nível educacional em ambos os sujeitos com leucemia mielóide aguda (p < 0.05). Houve associacão estatisticamente significante entre qualidade de vida e idade em ambos os sujeitos com linfoma maligno (p < 0.05). CONCLUSÃO:: A qualidade de vida dos pacientes com linfoma maligno e leucemia mielóide aguda, submetidos a transplante autólogo do progenitor, mantém-se preservada na maioria dos pacientes. Pacientes com idade acima de 50 anos, baixo nível educacional e fumantes têm pior qualidade de vida. Estes fatores devem ser melhor avaliados em estudos longitudinais e com amostras maiores.

2nd Department of Internal Medicine Charles University Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

See more in PubMed

Slovacek L, Slovackova B, Jebavy L. Global quality of life in patients who have undergone the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: finding from transversal and retrospective study. Exp Oncol. 2005;27(3):238–242. PubMed

Slovácek L, Slováková B, Jebavy L. Zdravotní a psychosociální aspekty kvality zivota nemocnych s akutní myeloidní leukémií po autologní transplantaci periferních kmenovych bunek. [Healthy and psychosocial aspects of quality of life in patients undergoing autologous progenitor stem cell transplantation] Cas Lek Cesk. 2006;145(12):949–952. discussion 953-4. PubMed

Ferrans C. In: Quality of Life Index – Cancer Version. Quality of life from nursing and patients perspectives. 2nd ed. King CR, Hinds PS, editors. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2003. pp. 451–454.

Grant M, Ferrell B, Schmidt GM, Fonbuena P, Niland JC, Forman SJ. Measurement of quality of life in bone marrow transplantation survivors. Qual Life Res. 1992;1(6):375–384. PubMed

EuroQol--a new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life The EuroQol Group. Health Policy. 1990;16(3):199–208. PubMed