Background: While socioeconomic status (SES) and the distance patients travel to a treatment center (DTC) impact survival of certain solid tumors, little is known of their influence in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients receiving remission induction therapy for AML at the Cleveland Clinic between January 1997 and December 2005. Demographic data were obtained from medical records. Income and DTC were determined using online databases. Known prognostic factors (age, WBC count at diagnosis, cytogenetics, AML etiology) were collected and controlled for in Cox proportional hazards analysis.
Results: Induction chemotherapy was administered to 281 patients; 91% were Caucasian (C), 8% were African American (AA), and 1% were neither (non-AA non-C). The median DTC was 24 miles (range, 0.9-2058), and median annual household income was USD 38,972 (range, USD17,496-143,220). With a median follow up of 22.6 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 11.3 months. In multivariable analyses, age >or=60 years, unfavorable cytogenetics, initial WBC count and secondary AML significantly influenced survival (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.035, and p=0.010, respectively). OS was similar for AAs and non-AA non-Cs compared to Cs (HR=1.12, 95% CI=.61-2.07, p=.71, and HR=0.87, CI=0.21-3.62, p=.84, respectively). Neither DTC (HR=1.00, 95%CI=0.98-1.01, p=.96 per 20 mile increment) nor SES (HR=1.02, 95%CI=0.92-1.13, p=.77 per USD10,000 annual income increase) had an impact on OS.
Conclusion: Unlike with many solid tumors, SES and DTC are not predictive of outcome in AML patients.