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Data from 131 consecutive adult patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at a tertiary care center from 1997 to 1999 suggest that the presence of an in-hospital lay care-partner during the patients' hospital stay is a powerful prognostic variable of survival. One year after the transplant, 75% of the patients with a lay care-partner were alive versus 26% of those without a care-partner. A multivariable survival analysis revealed not having an in-hospital lay care-partner as a significant independent risk factor for death (p <.001). This relationship held when adjusting for other such risk factors: i.e., primary diagnosis, disease status, and source of donor marrow. The idiosyncratic nature and importance of partnered relationships for survival in allogeneic BMT and the need to intervene and improve outcomes for patients are discussed with regard to future research and clinical programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]