Effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation on aplastic anemia patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides the chances of survival for aplastic anemia patients, it is also related to many treatment-related physical and psychological side effects that severely influence the quality of life. Exercise interventions have shown positive results in mixed hematology populations. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation in improving the quality of life, fatigue, and physical function in these patients.Methods The study will enroll a total of 82 aplastic anemia patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. They will be randomly divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will participate in structured exercise rehabilitation (plus usual care), while control group participants will receive usual care. The exercise rehabilitation program will be performed from neutrophil and platelet engraftment until 100 days after transplantation. All outcomes will be measured at the following time points: the neutrophil and platelet engraftment (+/- 1day, T0), discharge from the transplantation module (+/- 1 day, T1), hospital discharge (+/- 1 day, T2), and 100 days post-transplantation (+/- 5 days, T3).Discussion This study aims to assess the effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation for aplastic anemia patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a Chinese single center. It is particularly vital to conduct the studies in this population. Moreover, the evidence obtained from the study will provide evidence for future research and clinical practice to exercise in aplastic anemia patients.Trial registration ChiCTR2200060762. Registered on May 2022, www.trialregister.nl/trial/7702.