Vision-specific and cancer-specific quality of life in ocular graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the vision-specific and cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) between patients with and without ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT).

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study analyzed 142 patients after alloHCT including 94 patients with oGVHD and 48 without. oGVHD was diagnosed according to International Chronic Ocular GVHD Consensus Group (ICOGCG) criteria. QOL was assessed by using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Results: Compared with non-oGVHD patients, patients with oGVHD had worse vision-specific (NEI VFQ-25: 64.3 ± 20.3 vs. 77.6 ± 19.3, P < 0.001) and cancer-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30: 59.9 ± 20.3 vs. 67.4 ± 17.5, P = 0.03) QOL, as well as impaired cognitive function (72.7 ± 22.1 vs. 82.3 ± 19.0, P = 0.01). The vision-specific QOL was significantly correlated with ICOGCG score (β = - 1.88, 95%CI: - 3.35 to - 0.41, P = 0.01) and post-alloHCT medical expense (β = - 5.70, 95%CI: - 10.35 to - 1.05, P = 0.02), while cancer-specific QOL was strikingly correlated with post-alloHCT medical expense (β = - 9.91, 95%CI: - 14.43 to - 5.39, P < 0.001), frequency of ophthalmic medication (β = - 0.93, 95%CI: - 1.64 to - 0.21, P = 0.01), education (β = - 6.97, 95%CI: - 13.31 to - 0.62, P = 0.03), and peripheral blood stem cell use (β = - 6.42, 95%CI: - 12.59 to - 0.25, P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Patients with oGVHD experienced significant impairment in both vision-specific and cancer-specific QOL including cognitive function when compared with those without after alloHCT. Multidimensional QOL assessment should be included in the long-term alloHCT survivorship care.

Keywords: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Ocular graft-versus-host disease; Quality of life; Survivorship care.