Patient selection: history of acute GVHD after an hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT)
Factors impacting the patient's quality of life:
(1) chronic graft-versus-host disease, especially if active
(2) long-term sequelae of GVHD, especially if significant
(3) older age at the time of HCT (> 25 years of age)
(4) lower socioeconomic status
(5) lower level of education
(6) unrelated donor for the HCT
(7) poor social support
(8) shorter interval since the HCT (< 5 years)
A patient without chronic GVHD and without significant long-term sequelae can show a quality of life comparable to peers in the general population and are able to return to work.
A person with active chronic GVHD, significant long-term sequalae and other factors may have a very poor quality of life with significant disabilities.
