CONCLUSIONS: The head and neck cancer patients with more co-morbidities and those dependent on tube feeding are at a high risk of severe infections during chemotherapy. Therefore, prophylaxis with colony-stimulating factors and/or antibiotics should be considered for those patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for severe infection during chemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 129 patients with head and neck cancer who received taxane-based and platinum-based chemotherapy between 2008-2013. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk factors. RESULTS: Febrile neutropenia occurred in 50 patients out of the 129 (39%), severe infections occurred in 24 patients (19%), and bacteremia in two patients (2%). In univariate analysis, low serum albumin levels and tube feeding were significantly associated with severe infections (p = 0.015 and < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios for a higher modified Charlson co-morbidity index and tube feeding were 2.80 and 9.74, respectively. These two were independent predictive factors for severe infections (p = 0.020 and 0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The head and neck cancerpatients with more co-morbidities and those dependent on tube feeding are at a high risk of severe infections during chemotherapy. Therefore, prophylaxis with colony-stimulating factors and/or antibiotics should be considered for those patients. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for severe infection during chemotherapy in head and neck cancerpatients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 129 patients with head and neck cancer who received taxane-based and platinum-based chemotherapy between 2008-2013. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk factors. RESULTS:Febrile neutropenia occurred in 50 patients out of the 129 (39%), severe infections occurred in 24 patients (19%), and bacteremia in two patients (2%). In univariate analysis, low serum albumin levels and tube feeding were significantly associated with severe infections (p = 0.015 and < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios for a higher modified Charlson co-morbidity index and tube feeding were 2.80 and 9.74, respectively. These two were independent predictive factors for severe infections (p = 0.020 and 0.001, respectively).
Authors: Annika Y Classen; Larissa Henze; Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal; Georg Maschmeyer; Michael Sandherr; Luisa Durán Graeff; Nael Alakel; Maximilian Christopeit; Stefan W Krause; Karin Mayer; Silke Neumann; Oliver A Cornely; Olaf Penack; Florian Weißinger; Hans-Heinrich Wolf; Jörg Janne Vehreschild Journal: Ann Hematol Date: 2021-04-13 Impact factor: 3.673