Physical Characteristics Pertaining to Health-Related Quality of Life in Hospitalized Patients With Hematologic...

Background Patients with hematologic malignancies often experience pre-existing physical decline, which is further exacerbated during chemotherapy, resulting in markedly reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). These functional impairments are largely attributable to modifiable factors such as physical inactivity and malnutrition. However, the precise relationships among body composition, physical function, and HRQOL in this population remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify key physical determinants of HRQOL in hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies. Methods A total of 62 patients with hematologic malignancies who were hospitalized for chemotherapy were included in the analysis. Partial correlation analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical characteristics and HRQOL, assessed using the health state utility value (HSUV) from the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L). Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, hemoglobin concentration, and steroid dosage. Physical parameters included body composition, grip strength, gait speed, gait independence, and standing balance. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of HSUV. Variables with statistical or clinical relevance were included. Results The mean age of participants was 71.7 ± 13.3 years, and the mean HSUV was 0.799 ± 0.140. Partial correlation analysis showed significant associations between HSUV and body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, gait speed, and gait independence. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis identified gait speed (β = 0.304, p = 0.047) and gait independence (β = 0.411, p = 0.005) as independent predictors, explaining 50.5% of the variance in HSUV. Conclusion Gait speed and independence are critical indicators of HRQOL in hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies. Assessing these simple functional measures may help identify patients at risk of poor HRQOL, underscoring the importance of integrating physical rehabilitation into standard supportive care.