Quality of Life in Adult Patients Treated with Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Transplantation: the Effect of Selected Psychosocial, Demographics and Health Aspects on Quality of Life: a Retrospective Analysis

Aim: this retrospective study analyses the effect of selected psychosocial, demographics and health aspects on quality of life (QoL) in adult patients treated with peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (PBPCT). Patients and Methods: The total number of respondents treated with PBPCT between the years 2001–2003 was 95. The return rate of QoL questionnaires was 72.1 % (71 respondents). There were 100 % ratable QoL questionnaire. The average age of all respondents was 55.5 years old. The Czech version of an international generic European Quality of Life Questionnaire – Version EQ-5D was used. The effect of selected aspects on QoL of patients was determined by analysis of variance. The QoL questionnaires were evaluated with descriptive analysis. Results: The above-mentioned aspects proved statistically significant dependence of QoL (EQ-5D score – QoL dimensions, EQ-5D VAS – subjective health condition) on age, increasing number of associated diseases, religion and type of disease. The effect of other aspects on QoL was not proven statistically significant. The QoL in adult patients treated with PBPCT declines with increasing age and with the increasing number of associated diseases. People of faith have a higher level of QoL than non-believers. Patients with multiple myeloma treated with PBPCT have the most low QoL. Conclusion: The global QoL in an adult patients treated with PBPCT is on a good level

The Effect of Selected Health, Demographic and Psychosocial Aspects on Quality of Life in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease – a Prospective Analysis

Background. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is a prevalent atherosclerotic disorder characterized by exertional limb pain, loss of limb, and a high mortality rate. Because of its chronic nature, it often has a negative impact on a patient quality of life (QoL). Aims. To evaluate the effect of selected health, demographic and psychosocial aspects on QoL in respondents with PAOD. Patients and Methods. The study is a prospective and cross-sectional. It was carried out at the 2nd Department of Medicine of Charles University Hospital at the Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. Forty two respondents with PAOD (28 male, 14 female) were evaluated. All the respondents had involvement of femoral and popliteal arterial circulation. The number of all respondents in accordance with Fontaine classification was as follows: intermittent claudication: stage IIa – 4, stage IIb (<200 m) – 16, stage IIb (<50 m) – 9, chronic limb ischaemia: stage III – 6, stage IV – 7. The average age of all respondents was 65,4 years old (age range 45–79 years old). The study evaluates the effect of health aspects (stage of PAOD in accordance with Fontaine classification, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, smoking), demographic (age, sex) and psychosocial aspects (level of education, marital status, religion) on QoL in respondents with PAOD. The Czech version of the International Generic European Quality of Life Questionnaire – EQ-5D was used. Results. The statistical evaluation presents statistically a significant dependence of QoL in respondents with PAOD on age (p < 0,01) and the stage of PAOD in accordance with the Fontaine classification (p < 0,01). The effect of other health, demographic and psychosocial aspects was statistically insignificant. Conclusion. The results had shown that with an increasing age and with a serious stage of PAOD in accordance with Fontaine classification, the QoL declines. The global QoL in respondents with PAOD is low

FIFTEEN YEARS OF SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE WITH STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION FOR MULTIPLE MYELOMA: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Introduction: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) became standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) under the age of 65 years. We routinely perform ASCT for newly diagnosed MM since 1996 in our department. Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed all 285 transplants in 185 patients done for MM from January 1996 till December 2010. We analyzed overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) regarding conditioning, stage, complete or very good partial remission (CR, VGPR) achievement, renal impairment, single vs. double transplant. Results: Estimated 10-years survival of the whole set of patients is 39% (median survival 95 months). Patients with renal impairment show same OS as those without (p = 0.22). Patients show similar overall survival and event free survival regardless of type of transplant. We observed better outcome in terms of overall survival in patients treated with new drugs (p = 0.0014). Reaching CR or VGPR was not translated into better OS (p = 0.30) and EFS (p = 0.10). Also stage of the disease and whether single or double transplant was used did not make any significant difference in the outcome. Conclusion: Stem cell transplantation greatly improved outcome of patients with MM. Poor outcome of allogeneic transplantation in our group of patients is related to high transplant related mortality (20% vs. 0%) and unexpected high relapse rate. There is a trend towards better survival, when new drugs are incorporated at any time in the course of the disease. This fact supports hypothesis that use of these drugs with ASCT should translate into better long-term outcome