CN94 - Associations between depression and quality of life after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A longitudinal study

Background

Receiving a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is associated with experiencing psychological distress and may impair Quality of Life (QoL). In HSCT, association between depression and poorer health outcomes have been observed. We aim to describe the associations between HSCT recipients’ depression and QoL, in 6 time points during the HSCT trajectory.

Methods

Observational prospective longitudinal study conducted between October 2019 and February 2022. HSCT patients were recruited consecutively. Inclusion criteria were: > 18 years with a primary caregiver. Exclusion criteria were: second allo-HSCT, significant language barrier, Primary amyloidosis, Crohn’s disease and other autoimmune neurological diagnoses. FACT-BMT and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) instruments were administered to evaluate quality of life and depression in 6 time points: Pre-HSCT (T0), day + 7 in auto-HSCT or +10 in allo-HSCT (T1), day + 14 in auto-HSCT or +21 in allo-HSCT (T2), 3 months (T3), 6 months (T4) and 12 months (T5). Clinical and demographic data of participants were also collected. The study was approved by the centre’s Ethics Committee and patients signed informed consent to participate.

Results

72 patients were included with medium age 52 years (SD 12.6). 46 (63.9%) were male. 38 (52.8%) received allogeneic and 34 (47.2%) autologous HSCT. 36 (50%) received HSCT in an at-home setting. Main underlying diseases were Leukaemia (26, 36.1%), Multiple Myeloma (23, 31.9%) and Lymphoma (15, 20.8%). 9 participants (12.5%) died during follow-up. We observe strong, statistically significant, negative correlations between depression and quality of life at all time points. Lowest correlation was r=0.72 (p<0.001) at T1 and ranged between r=0.81 and r=0.89 (p> 0.001) at all other time-points.

Conclusions

There is a strong association between HSCT recipient’s quality of life and depression, during the whole HSCT trajectory. Healthcare professionals should focus on preventing and reducing depression morbidity to enhance QoL of HSCT survivors. Also, this could diminish other associated complications such as low treatment adherence and major mortality.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

A. Rosich-Soteras.

Funding

Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.