A Longitudinal Study of Physical Function in Patients Undergoing Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant.

Current treatments for haematological cancers are associated with improved survival rates, however they are also associated with significant toxicity and long periods of hospitalization, which may negatively affect patients' quality of life and physical performance. Hematopoeitic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment option however remains a high-toxicity treatment with a high risk of severe complications. The optimal format of rehabilitation needed by patients undergoing HSCT is unclear.

A prospective, longitudinal cohort study will be conducted to evaluate the effects of treatment on patients undergoing HSCT. The objectives are this study are: (1) to investigate the impact of HSCT on physical performance, quality of life and fatigue before and over 12 months from HSCT; (2) to investigate the effect of pre-transplantation factors associated with outcomes post HSCT and identify potentially modifiable factors; (3) to compare changes in outcomes between older (aged ≥60 years) and younger (18-59 years) patients.

Overall this project will determine the impact of treatment on the physical performance of patients undergoing HSCT.