Effect of Inpatient Palliative Care on Quality of Life 2 Weeks After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE During hospitalization for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), patients receive high-dose chemotherapy before transplantation and experience significant physical and psychological symptoms and poor quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of inpatient palliative care on patient-and caregiver-reported outcomes during hospitalization for HCT and 3 months after transplantation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Nonblinded randomized clinical trial among 160 adults with hematologic malignancies undergoing autologous/allogeneic HCT and their caregivers (n = 94). The study was conducted from August 2014 to January 2016 in a Boston hospital; follow-up was completed in May 2016. INTERVENTIONS Patients assigned to the intervention (n= 81) were seen by palliative care clinicians at least twice a week during HCT hospitalization; the palliative intervention was focused on management of physical and psychological symptoms. Patients assigned to standard transplant care (n= 79) could be seen by palliative care clinicians on request. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary: change in patient QOL from baseline to week 2; secondary: patient-assessed mood, fatigue, and symptom burden scores at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months after HCT and caregiver-assessed QOL and mood at baseline and 2 weeks after HCT. RESULTS Among 160 patients (mean age, 60[SD, 13.3] years; 91 women[56.9%]; median hospital stay, 21 days) and 94 caregivers, 157(98.1%) and 89(94.7%), respectively, completed 2-week follow-up, and 149 patients(93.1%) completed 3-month follow-up. Intervention patients reported a smaller decrease in QOL from baseline to week 2 vs controls. Intervention patients had less increase in depression, lower anxiety, no difference in fatigue, and less increase in symptom burden. At 3 months, intervention patients had higher QOL and less depression but no significant differences in anxiety, fatigue, or symptom burden. From baseline to week 2 after HCT, caregivers of intervention patients vs controls reported no significant differences in QOL or anxiety but had a smaller increase in depression (mean, 0.25 vs 1.80; mean difference, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.14-2.96; P =.03). [GRAPHICS] CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among adults at a single institution undergoing HCT for hematologic malignancy, the use of inpatient palliative care compared with standard transplant care resulted in a smaller decrease in QOL 2 weeks after transplantation. Further research is needed for replication and to assess longer-term outcomes and cost implications.