Late Effects of Severe Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease on Quality of Life, Medical Comorbidities, and Survival

Abstract

Grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is associated with high short-term morbidity and mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The long-term effects after recovery from grade III-IV aGVHD are unknown. This study aimed to analyze late medical comorbidities, quality of life, nonrelapse mortality, and survival in patients treated for grade III-IV aGVHD. Chart review identified late effects, and patients were asked to complete annual surveys to collect patient-reported outcomes. Outcomes were compared between patients with grade 0-I aGVHD and grade III-IV aGVHD who underwent HCT between 2001 and 2019 and survived for at least 1 year post-transplantation. Patients with a history of grade III-IV aGVHD (n=192) had significantly higher rates of late medical comorbidities (P < .001) and worse physical (P=.01) and mental (P=.04) functioning compared with patients with grade 0-I aGVHD (n=615). Patients who survived for >1 year post-transplantation and had prior grade III-IV aGVHD also had worse 5-year overall survival (77.5% versus 83.6%; P=.006) and higher nonrelapse mortality (19.2% versus 10.6%; P < .001) compared with those with a history of grade 0-I aGVHD. No between-group difference was found in cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD. Patients who recover from severe aGVHD remain vulnerable to developing late comorbidities. These patients would likely benefit from continued monitoring and supportive care in an attempt to prevent late effects and improve survival.