Real-world evaluation of health-related quality of life in hematology patients treated with rituximab: results of a multicentric cross-sectional cohort study

Background: Advancements in treating hematologic malignancies have improved survival, but health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains a key concern due to the physical, emotional, and social impact of disease and treatment. Aims: This study aimed to assess HRQoL in patients undergoing treatment for hematologic malignancies, identifying the most affected domains to guide supportive interventions. Methods: HRQoL was evaluated using the 42-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) in a prospective, multicenter observational study on rituximab safety across Italian hematology units (March 2018–June 2022). Results: Of 772 patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), 412 (62.6%) completed the HRQoL assessment. Overall, patients reported acceptable quality of life. Key concerns included reduced enjoyment of life (45.1%), poor sleep (42.0%), and dissatisfaction with quality of life (41.0%). Functional impairments and emotional distress were also reported. CLL patients showed slightly better physical and lymphoma-specific well-being than NHL patients. Patients with other hematologic diseases had lower scores across several domains. Conclusions: While HRQoL is generally acceptable in NHL and CLL, functional well-being is most impacted. Routine integration of HRQoL assessments is essential to identify unmet needs and support patient-centered care.