Estimates about quality of life of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients can be biased, according to a study involving 701 individuals.

Investigators looked at 1) how attrition results in biased estimates of HCT recipients’ quality of life and 2) trajectories of quality of life in the first 6 months after transplant. They also analyzed answers to the SF-36 questionnaire prior to transplant, as well as 100 and 180 days afterwards. Among the results:

• Attrition led to slightly biased overestimates of quality of life, and the amount of overestimation remained stable over time.

• 3 classes based on physical quality of life emerged: low and stable; average and declining, then stable; and average and stable.

• 4 classes based on mental quality of life were evident: low and stable; average, improving, then stable; higher than average and stable; and average and stable.

Citation: Jim H, Sutton S, Small B, et al. Trajectories of quality of life after hematopoietic cell transplantation: Secondary analysis of BMT CTN 0902 data. [Published online ahead of print August 15, 2016]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2016.08.012.