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Acute myeloid leukemia

Long-term recovery of quality of life and physical function over three years in adult survivors of acute myeloid leukemia after intensive chemotherapy

Leukemia volume 33, pages 15–25 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

We previously described impairments in quality of life (QOL) and physical function among acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivors between diagnosis and 1 year. The aim of the current study is to describe and compare to normative data QOL and physical function recovery over 3 years from diagnosis and treatment with intensive chemotherapy (IC). At assessments done at baseline (pre-IC) and at 11 time points over 3 years, QOL, fatigue, and 3 physical performance measures (PPMs; grip strength, 6-min walk test (6MWT), and timed chair stands) were collected. Long-term recovery was defined by reaching scores within the minimum clinically important difference of normative data. Global QOL recovery was seen in 79% at 1 year, 75% at 2 years, and 86% at 3 years. At 3 years, the QLQ-C30 subscales with the greatest recovery were physical and emotional functioning. For FACT-fatigue, recovery was seen in 68% at 1 year and 77% at 3 years. Recovery on PPMs was poorer on average, with only 17% on the 6MWT and 42% in grip strength returning to normal at 3 years. The vast majority of AML survivors after IC achieve recovery in QOL and fatigue by three years. However, recovery in physical performance remained blunted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    N. Timilshina, H. Breunis, G. A. Tomlinson, S. Durbano & S. M. H. Alibhai

  2. Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    N. Timilshina, G. A. Tomlinson & S. M. H. Alibhai

  3. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    G. A. Tomlinson

  4. Division of Hematology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    J. M. Brandwein

  5. Hematology/Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    R. Buckstein

  6. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    S. M. H. Alibhai

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  1. N. Timilshina
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Correspondence to S. M. H. Alibhai.

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Timilshina, N., Breunis, H., Tomlinson, G.A. et al. Long-term recovery of quality of life and physical function over three years in adult survivors of acute myeloid leukemia after intensive chemotherapy. Leukemia 33, 15–25 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-018-0162-5

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