Inpatient Rehabilitation Improves Physical and Mental Health in Multiple Myeloma: A Prospective Cohort Study

This study evaluated the impact of standard inpatient rehabilitation on physical and mental health outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Since prior data showed that physical activity (PA) is beneficial for patients with MM, this study assessed (1) the onset and (2) durability of these benefits with and without rehabilitation.

Sixty patients with MM, undergoing a three-week rehabilitation program in the rehabilitation clinic of the University of Freiburg between April 2022 and September 2023, were assessed at three time points: baseline (T0), post-rehabilitation (T1), and 3-months post-rehabilitation (T2). Six patients, declining rehabilitation, were also examined. Tests included the timed-up-and-go-test (TUGT), handgrip strength, laboratory parameters, subjective fitness-rating, validated questionnaires for PA, fatigue, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL: SF-12, R-MCI).

Patients showed meaningful improvements in physical function, TUGT, and grip strength from T0 to T1. Fatigue, depression, and HRQoL improved considerably. After their return home (T2), 80% of patients remained physically active. Patients reported substantially higher subjective physical fitness at T2 compared to T0, improving to 5.0 from 3.1 on a 10-point scale, respectively. Non-rehabilitation-undergoing patients were fitter at baseline but did not improve in any tests/questionnaires at T1.

Structured three-week rehabilitation led to a substantial improvement in both the physical and psychological well-being of patients with MM, despite their compromised bone health. These effects persisted 3-months after patients' dismission home. The non-rehabilitation group showed no comparable improvement, underscoring the potential benefit of structured rehabilitation in enhancing HRQoL, fatigue, and depression. Continued post-rehabilitation support is pertinent to sustain these benefits.