Quality of life and financial toxicity of hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in COVID-19

Objective:

to evaluate and correlate the quality of life and financial toxicity of adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method:

observational, analytical study, carried out with 35 patients in a reference hospital for transplantation in Latin America. For data collection, the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy Bone Marrow Transplantation and COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity questionnaires were used. Spearman and Mann-Whitney correlation tests were used for data analysis.

Results:

general quality of life during COVID-19 had a low score (67.09/108) with greater impairment in functional well-being (14.47/28), social well-being (16.76/28) and additional concerns (23.41/40). The means of the allogeneic group were lower than those of the autologous group in all domains, showing a significant difference in relation to additional concerns (p=0.01) and in the treatment evaluation index (p=0.04). Financial toxicity was considered to have a slight impact (22.11/44). There was a relationship, albeit not significant, between quality of life and financial toxicity (p=0.051).

Conclusion:

the quality of life of the sample was low; there is a correlation between quality of life and financial toxicity, although not significant. The higher the financial toxicity, the lower the quality of life.

Descriptors:
Quality of Life; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Financial Stress; Financial Toxicity; COVID-19

Highlights:

(1) Financial toxicity during COVID-19 was considered mild.

(2) Bone marrow transplant recipients had a worsening in their overall quality of life.

(3) The greater the financial toxicity, the worse the quality of life of transplant recipients.