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Background: Pulmonary function test (PFT) impairments are common after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The prognostic significance of these declines on outcomes is not well understood.The objectives were to determine the frequency of declines in pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCO]) in the early post-transplantation period; and to determine the prognostic significance of these declines on mortality or development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. PFTs were obtained at baseline and at day +100. Competing risk survival models were developed, which accounted for pre-transplantation pulmonary function and relapse status. Results: Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020, 1,145 subjects underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and had a pre-transplantation PFT performed. Of these, 900 (78.6%) survived to day 100 and had post-transplantation PFTs performed (median [interquartile range] 97 [94-103] d). A decline of ≥10% in FEV1, FVC, or DLCO was seen in 401 of 900 subjects (44.5%). Declines of ≥20% in FEV1 (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% CI 1.07-2.56; P = .02), FVC (hazard ratio 1.72, 95% CI [1.11-2.67]; P = .02), and DLCO (hazard ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.04-2.07; P = .028) were all associated with reduced survival when compared with those with < 10% decline in PFT measures. These findings were independent of pre-transplantation pulmonary function or relapse status. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was diagnosed in 118 subjects (10.3%), and there was no relationship between early PFT decline and a subsequent diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. The subjects who received myeloablative conditioning with cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation or cyclophosphamide plus fludarabine plus total body irradiation were more likely to have lower spirometry values after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The subjects who received reduced intensity conditioning or nonmyeloablative conditioning with fludarabine plus total body irradiation were more likely to have higher post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation FEV1, FVC, and DLCO. Conclusions: An absolute decline of ≥20% in FEV1, FVC, or DLCO were associated with reduced survival independent of pre-transplantation pulmonary function or relapse status. In contrast to previous work, early declines in PFT measures were not associated with future development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helpful workplace support strategies and accommodations (WSSA) for bereaved parents returning to work was assessed via comprehensive search of databases from 1990 to January 21, 2022. Eleven of 45 qualitative articles met inclusion. Bereaved parents often felt returning to work provided a coping strategy for and/or distraction from grief; however, some received insensitive comments by employer/coworkers. Helpful WSSA included flexibility on date to return to work and schedule. In conclusion, due to the intensity of their grief, bereaved parents benefit from a workplace offering individualized time off for bereavement and workplace accommodations to address potential difficulty meeting prior productivity demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: ARDS is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Pre-transplant risk factors for developing ARDS after HSCT have been recently identified. The objective of this study was to better understand post-transplant risk factors for developing ARDS after HSCT. METHODS: This was a nested case-control study. ARDS cases were matched to hospitalized non-ARDS controls by age, type of transplantation (allogeneic vs autologous), and time from transplantation. In a conditional logistic regression model, any potential risk factors were adjusted a priori for risk factors known to be associated with ARDS development. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy ARDS cases were matched 1:1 to non-ARDS hospitalized controls. Pre-admission, cases were more likely to be on steroids (odds ratio [OR] 1.90 [1.13-3.19], P 5 .02). At time of admission, cases had lower platelet count (OR 0.95 [0.91-0.99], P 5 .02), lower bicarbonate (OR 0.94 [0.88-0.99], P 5 .035), and higher creatinine (OR 1.91 [1.23-2.94], P 5 .004). During the first 24 h after admission, cases were more likely to have received transfusion (OR 2.41 [1.48-3.94], P < .001), opioids (OR 2.94 [1.67-5.18], P < .001), and have greater fluid administration (OR 1.52 [1.30-1.78], P < .001). During the hospitalization, ARDS cases had higher temperature (OR 1.77 [1.34-2.33], P < .001) and higher breathing frequency (OR 1.52 [1.33-1.74], P < .001). ARDS cases were more likely to have had sepsis (OR 68.0 [15.2-301.7], P < .001), bloodstream infection (OR 4.59 [2.46-8.57], P < .001), and pneumonia (OR 9.76 [5.01-19.00], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Several post-transplant predictors of ARDS development specific to the HSCT population were identified in the pre-hospital and early in-hospital domains. These findings can provide insights into causal mechanisms of ARDS development and be used to develop HSCT-specific risk prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]