Important factors associated with sick leave after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation—a 1-year prospective study

PURPOSE: This study examines sick leave (SL) and factors associated with full-time SL 1 year after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients of working age from 2009 to 2016 (n = 122). METHODS: Questionnaire data were collected on admission to the allo-HSCT unit, at 7 months and 1 year after allo-HSCT. Associations between factors and SL were analysed using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: One year after allo-HSCT, 76% of participants were on SL, with 36% on full-time SL. In univariable analyses, chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGvHD) (OR 3.07; 95% CI 1.34–7.07; p = 0.01), having symptoms of depression at 7 months (OR 4.81; 95% CI 1.69–13.69; p = 0.00) and low levels of vocational satisfaction at 7 months after treatment (OR 3.27; 95% CI 1.27–8.41; p = 0.01) were associated with full-time SL 1 year after allo-HSCT. cGvHD (OR 3.43; 95% CI 1.35–8.73; p = 0.01) and having symptoms of depression at 7 months after allo-HSCT (OR 3.37; 95% CI 1.2–11.58; p = 0.02) remained significant in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: The majority of allo-HSCT survivors were on SL 1 year after treatment, and cGvHD, low vocational satisfaction and depressive symptoms were associated with full-time SL 1 year after allo-HSCT. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Healthcare professionals need to be observant of and manage the consequences of cGvHD and patients’ symptoms of depression in order to support them appropriately in their return-to-work process.