Impaired physiological function and health-related QOL in patients before hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Patients' physiological functions and health-related quality of life (QOL) are useful for planning physical therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), but have not been extensively examined prior to transplantation. We investigated whether physiological functions and health-related QOL were reduced in patients before undergoing allo-HSCT.

All patients (n = 110) who underwent allo-HSCT between May 2007 and April 2010 at Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital were included in this study and evaluated for hand-grip and knee-extensor strength; 6-min walk test (6MWT) and health-related QOL (SF-36) were also used for evaluation.

Grip strength, knee-extensor strength, 6MWT, and all eight SF-36 health-related QOL subscale scores significantly decreased in HSCT patients compared to population norms (all, P < 0.01). Health-related QOL is associated with various confounding factors such as fatigue and sex. Loss of physiological function is also associated with confounding factors; one such association was found between skeletal muscle strength and previous HSCT treatment.

Health-related QOL and loss of physiological function have a variety confounding factors. Patients scheduled for HSCT may have physiological weaknesses prior to transplant, which need to be considered when planning an exercise regimen during and after transplantation.