Physical and psychosocial functioning of 117 survivors of bone marrow transplantation

All surviving patients receiving a BMT at our center since 1976 were surveyed. Among 163 eligible patients, 145 were contacted and 117 (81%) responded. Their median follow-up was 55 months (range 6-154). The research instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a current medical status form, a quality of life questionnaire (Nottingham Health Profile), and a screening instrument for psychiatric morbidity (the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire). Current functioning varied considerably across patients. They reported a high use of medical services (37%) and varied ongoing medical problems within the last 6 months. Most of them (93%) received Karnofsky ratings of 80 or above. Eight percent had current chronic GVHD. Comparing our patients' quality of life with a British reference population, most important differences were found for physical mobility, work, and sex life. Psychiatric morbidity in BMT survivors was higher than in a Spanish general population. Multivariate analyses revealed that a higher systemic symptomatology score, a lower educational level, an older age at BMT, a shorter time post-BMT, a female gender, and impotence were significant predictors of an impaired overall quality of life. Similarly, a higher systemic symptomatology score, a shorter time post-BMT, a higher number of major infections, and a lower educational level were predictive factors of a higher psychosocial distress. No differences in quality of life or psychosocial status between allogeneic and autologous transplants were found. Quality of life and psychosocial distress improved with the passage of time, specially within the first 3 years.