Health-Related Quality of Life among Older Related Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donors (>60 Years) Is Equivalent to That of Younger Related Donors (18 to 60 Years): A Related Donor Safety Study

Abstract

The increasing number of older adults with blood-related disorders and the introduction of reduced intensity conditioning regimens has led to increases in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation among older adults and a corresponding increase in the age of siblings who donate HSCs to these patients. Data regarding the donation-related experiences of older donors is lacking. The Related Donor Safety Study (RDSafe) aimed to examine/compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older versus younger HSC donors. 60 peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donors ages 18–60 and 104 PBSC donors age >60 completed validated questionnaires at pre-donation, 4 weeks and 1 year post-donation. Prior to donation, older donors had poorer general physical health (t=−3.27; p=.001) but better mental health (t=2.11; p<.05). There were no age differences in multiple other donation-related factors. At 4 weeks post-donation, there were no group differences in general physical/mental health, but older donors were less likely to report donation-related pain (t=−2.26; p<.05) and concerns (t=−3.38; p=.001). At both 4 weeks and 1 year post-donation, there were no significant differences in the percentage of each age group feeling physically back to normal or in the number of days it took donors to feel completely well. There was no evidence that increasing age within the older donor group was associated with poorer donation-related HRQoL. Taken together, these data support the current practice of HSC donation by sibling donors above age 60, providing no evidence of worsening HRQoL up to one year after donation in individuals up to age 76.

Effect of Aging and Predonation Comorbidities on the Related Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donor Experience: Report from the Related Donor Safety Study

“…This means that the older donors who have some mild to moderate pain and have not recovered to their predonation level are generally donors who start with no predonation pain. Of note, in spite of this finding we showed in an earlier publication that RDs aged > 60 have equivalent health-related quality of life outcomes compared with donors aged 18 to 60 [16]. Lack of recovery to baseline pain and symptoms varied over the study period, with donors enrolled during the later part of the study having a better chance of recovery.…”

Adult‐related haematopoietic stem cell donor experiences and the provision of information and psychosocial support: A systematic literature review

“…Two studies, Labott and Pfammatter () and Switzer et al () used validated measures to examine participants’ donation experiences. Measures addressed the donor–recipient relationship, physical and psychological status, guilt and responsibility, self‐esteem, ambivalence about donation and reactions to the donation itself.…”

Related peripheral blood stem cell donors experience more severe symptoms and less complete recovery at one year compared to unrelated donors

“…A product-specific collection form detailed information on the collection procedure. A subset of donors underwent assessment of long-term psychological recovery by established Health Related Quality of Life instruments (reported previously 14–16 ).…”