Treatment-related toxicities associated with hospitalization in children, adolescents, and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: population level analysis

Abstract

Treatment-related toxicities (TRTs) are a potential cause of survival disparities in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We aimed to identify the most frequent TRTs associated with hospitalizations at a population level in children, adolescents and young adults (AYAs). We used the California Cancer Registry linked to a statewide hospital discharge database to identify children and AYAs with TRTs within 3 years of diagnosis. We assessed the frequency of TRTs, length of stay (LOS), admission rates associated with TRTs and TRTs impact on survival. Febrile neutropenia, hypertension, and thrombocytopenia were the most common TRTs for both children and AYAs. AYAs had longer median LOS compared to children for most toxicities. AYAs at non-specialized cancer centers (SCCs) had higher frequency of admissions associated with TRTs compared to non-SCC. Cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, and infectious TRTs were associated with worse survival. This study demonstrates the burden of TRTs in patients with ALL.