Differences in health behaviour between recipients of allogeneic haematopoietic SCT and the general population: a matched control study

Little is known of health-relevant behaviour among long-term survivors of haematological disorders treated with haematopoietic SCT. This comparative cross-sectional multicentre study aimed (1) to explore the prevalence of selected behaviours in this group and (2) to compare them with those of the general population. Self-reported data of 376 survivors (mean age: 50.4 (s.d. = 12.8); median 7 years postallogeneic SCT (interquartile range (IQR) = 8.9; range 1-33) were compared with controls derived from the Swiss Health Survey 2007 by propensity score matching. Survivors were more physically inactive (26.8% vs 12.5%; P ⩽ 0.001) and consumed fewer portions of vegetables (⩾ 3 pieces: 10% vs 21.6%; P < 0.001), fruits (⩾ 3 pieces: 6.5% vs 10.6%; P < 0.001) and fish (31.2% vs 60.9% weekly fish dish; P < 0.001). More survivors consumed dairy products daily (92.5% vs 62.9%; P < 0.001), used sun protection regularly (94.5% vs 85.3%, P < 0.001) and had received influenza vaccinations in the past year (58.4% vs 21.5%; P < 0.001); fewer survivors smoked (13.4% vs 35.4%; P < 0.001). Survivors' weekly alcohol consumption was lower (median 1.5 servings (IQR 4) vs median 4.5 (IQR 10.3); P < 0.001). Of those taking immunosuppressants, 65.7% were non-adherent. Similar to the general population, survivors experience problems executing several health-enhancing behaviours, warranting corrective interventions.