Analyzing Mortality and Survival in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Using the Charlson Comorbidity Index

Researchers assessed the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) as a predictor of early mortality and overall survival (OS) in patients under the age of 60 with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The results were presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Led by Prajwal Dhakal, researchers assessed 4,969 patients under the age of 60 diagnosed with APL between 2004 and 2015. The population of interest were divided into three groups based off CCI group (score of 0, 1, and ≥2). Early mortality, defined in this study as within one-month, was assessed using multiple regression analysis, while Cox regression modeling assessed the impact of CCI on OS.

According to the results, 78% of patients had a CCI of 0; 16% had CCI 1, and 6% had CCI ≥2. The researchers observed that early mortality was 5%, 14%, and 25% for patients with CCI 0, 1, and ≥2, respectively. Following adjustments for co-variates, the researchers found that one-month mortality was worse for patients with CCI 1 (OR=2.6; 95% CI, 2.0-3.4, P<.001), and CCI ≥2 (OR=5.3, 95% CI 3.9-7.4, P<.001) compared to patients with CCI 0.

The researchers concluded that the results “indicate CCI as an important predictor of one-month mortality and OS in APL. CCI should be taken into consideration while interpreting clinical trial results.”