Relationship between Corticosteroid Dose and Physical Performance after HSCT: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: This study aimed to prospectively investigate the factors affecting the diminished ability of patients to stand up following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. Pre- and post-HSCT physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Post-HSCT physical performance decline was defined as a decrease of at least 1 point in the SPPB chair rise score at hospital discharge compared with the pre-HSCT score. Factors associated with this decline were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: A functional decline in the ability to stand up post-HSCT was noted. The total corticosteroid dose (odds ratio, 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.05) showed an independent association with physical performance decline post-HSCT. Conclusions: The total corticosteroid dose is a valuable predictor of physical performance decline post-HSCT. Therefore, standing up movements should be evaluated cautiously in patients who are expected to receive high corticosteroid doses for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease or HSCT regimens.