Social determinants of health and access to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Whether allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is equitably accessible regardless of social determinants of health (SDOH) remains unknown. We examined associations of SDOH with access to allo-HCT and other outcomes. Patients presenting for treatment (n = 692) at 13 AML treatment centers were prospectively recruited to a registered clinical trial (number NCT01929408). Various patient-, AML-, and SDOH-specific variables were collected. Outcomes included mortality without allo-HCT, receipt of allo-HCT, and mortality after allo-HCT. Individual multivariable models (Fine-Gray for the first 2 outcomes, Cox regression for the third) were fit for each SDOH variable, adjusting for relevant patient- and AML-specific variables. Allo-HCT was used to treat 46% of patients. A 10% increase in the proportion with less than a high school education, in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, receiving Supplemental Security Income, or in poverty led to modeled adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of 1.21 (0.99-1.46), 1.13 (0.97-1.31), 1.41 (1.01-1.97), and 1.16 (0.96-1.39) for death without allo-HCT. The aHRs were 0.67 (0.55-0.83), 0.88 (0.76-1.01), 0.71 (0.48-1.05), and 0.91 (0.75-1.09) for lessened receipt of allo-HCT. Among those who received allo-HCT, aHRs for mortality were 1.18 (0.87-1.60), 1.13 (0.92-1.38), 1.21 (0.81-1.82), and 1.04 (0.79-1.36). Results highlight increased mortality without allo-HCT and decreased access to allo-HCT, but lesser magnitude of increased mortality after allo-HCT, among patients from lower resourced areas due to limited education and/or increased poverty. Targeted interventions and policy changes are needed to ensure that marginalized patient populations have equitable chances for AML cure compared with others.