Role of Nutrition and Physical Therapy in Maintaining Fat Free Mass and Muscle Strength During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a pediatric cancer treatment, but malnutrition and fat free mass (FFM) loss during the process induce negative outcomes. Tracking changes in body composition, physical activity, and handgrip strength (HGS) may determine the effectiveness of current nutrition and physical therapy in maintaining FFM. This prospective quality improvement study of 9 participants receiving first-time HSCT considered bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and HGS data at intake and discharge with nutrition, physical activity, medication administration, and incidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) throughout admission.An overall loss of weight, FFM, and right and left HGS (p=0.009; p=0.020) and increased fat mass and body fat percentage were observed.Most participants discharged with worsened nutrition diagnoses. No participant experienced GVHD. No relationships were found between participant characteristics, steroid administration, appetite stimulant administration, or nutrition route.A small sample set precluded conclusive observations and necessitates further research in this area