Self-Reported Depression and Anxiety By Patients with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Identify a Group with Worse Quality of Life, Symptoms, and Functional Status

Coping and Modifiable Psychosocial Factors are Associated with Mood and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of most common complications following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and the most significant contributor to morbidity and nonrelapse mortality. The physical burdens and psychosocial difficulties of these patients have not been described systematically. An exploration into the rates and correlates of mood and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic GVHD is necessary to develop a clinically relevant, evidence-based intervention to promote well-being. From July 2015 to July 2017, adult allogeneic HCT survivors with established moderate to severe chronic GVHD (N = 52) enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study at a tertiary academic center. We examined the rates and correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and explored whether constructs including coping strategies (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations), symptom burden (Lee Symptom Assessment Scale), physical functioning (Human Activity Profile), and perceived social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey) predicted QOL trajectory over time (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant) at the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, chronic GVHD severity, and time since chronic GVHD diagnosis. At the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up, 32.7%, 31.1%, and 37.8% of patients reported clinically significant depression symptoms, and 30.8%, 20.0%, and 36.4% reported clinically elevated anxiety symptoms, respectively. Adjusting for covariates, greater use of negative emotion-oriented coping (β = 0.20, P = .002), less use of task-oriented coping (β = -0.10, P = .021), worse physical functioning (β = -0.07, P = .004), and higher symptom burden (β = 0.07, P = .002) were independently associated with depression symptoms at baseline. Greater use of negative emotion-oriented coping (β = 0.28, P < .001) and worse physical functioning (β = -0.05, P = .034) were independently associated with anxiety at baseline. Patients who used more negative emotion-oriented coping (β = -0.58, P = .035), had less task-oriented (β = 0.40, P = .028) and social diversion-oriented coping (β = 0.35, P = .039), and had higher symptom burden (β = -0.30, P = .001), worse physical functioning (β = 0.32, P < .001), and lower perceived social support (β = 6.47, P = .003) at baseline reported poorer QOL over time. The unmet physical and psychosocial needs of patients with chronic GVHD are substantial and warrant investigation into evidence-based interventions that may improve QOL and mood by targeting modifiable psychosocial constructs identified in this study.

Quality of life of patients with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJECTIVE

Assessing the quality of life of adult patients with hematological cancer in the 100 days after transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells and verifying whether the variable graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is predictive of worse results.

METHOD

An observational correlational and quantitative study with 36 adult participants diagnosed with hematologic cancer who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from September 2013 to June 2015.

RESULT

The mean age was 37 years, 52.78% were female, and 61.11% were diagnosed with leukemia. Quality of life scores showed a significant impact between pre-transplantation and pre-hospital discharge, and also within the 100 days post-transplantation. The statistical analysis between the scores for the groups with and without GvHD showed a significant difference between the presence of the complication and worse results.

CONCLUSION

Quality of life is altered as a result of hematopoietic stem cells transplantation, especially in patients who have graft-versus-host disease.

OBJETIVO

Avaliar a qualidade de vida de pacientes adultos com câncer hematológico nos 100 dias do transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas e verificar se a variável doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro é preditiva de piores resultados.

MÉTODO

Estudo observacional, correlacional e quantitativo, com 36 participantes adultos, diagnosticados com câncer hematológico que se submeteram ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas de setembro de 2013 a junho de 2015.

RESULTADO

A média de idade foi 37 anos, 52,78% eram do sexo feminino, e 61,11% com diagnóstico de leucemia. Os escores de qualidade de vida demonstraram impacto significativo entre o pré-transplante e a pré-alta hospitalar e entre os 100 dias pós-transplante. A análise estatística entre os escores dos grupos com e sem doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro evidenciou significância entre a presença desta complicação e piores resultados.

CONCLUSÃO

A qualidade de vida é alterada em decorrência do transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas, em especial nos pacientes que apresentam doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro.