Prajwal Dhakal1, Elizabeth Lyden2, Kate-Lynn E Muir3, Zaid S Al-Kadhimi4, Lori J Maness4, Krishna Gundabolu4, Vijaya Raj Bhatt4. 1. Division of Oncology and Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. Electronic address: prazwal@gmail.com. 2. Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. 4. Division of Oncology and Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patients living farther away from academic centers may not have easy access to resources for management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to analyze the effect of distance traveled on overall survival (OS) of AML patients treated at an academic center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AML patients diagnosed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center were divided into 4 groups according to the shortest distance between the cancer center and patients' residence (<25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles). Chi-square test and ANOVA were used to examine the association of distance with patient characteristics. OS, defined as the time from diagnosis of AML to death from any cause, was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of survival curves was done by the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis using Cox regression was performed to detect the survival effect of distance from the cancer center. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 449. Median distance was 85 miles (interquartile range, 20-180). OS at 1 year for < 25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles was 45%, 55%, 38%, and 40% respectively (P = .6). In a Cox regression analysis, distance from treatment center, as a continuous variable, was not a significant factor for death (hazard ratio, 1.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.000-1.001). Multivariable analysis showed nonsignificant trend of increased mortality for patients traveling > 100 miles to a cancer center. CONCLUSION: This study did not demonstrate an association between distance from an academic cancer center and OS in AML. This finding should provide some assurance to patients who live farther away from academic centers.
INTRODUCTION: Patients living farther away from academic centers may not have easy access to resources for management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to analyze the effect of distance traveled on overall survival (OS) of AML patients treated at an academic center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AML patients diagnosed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center were divided into 4 groups according to the shortest distance between the cancer center and patients' residence (<25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles). Chi-square test and ANOVA were used to examine the association of distance with patient characteristics. OS, defined as the time from diagnosis of AML to death from any cause, was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Comparison of survival curves was done by the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis using Cox regression was performed to detect the survival effect of distance from the cancer center. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 449. Median distance was 85 miles (interquartile range, 20-180). OS at 1 year for < 25, 25-50, 50-100, and > 100 miles was 45%, 55%, 38%, and 40% respectively (P = .6). In a Cox regression analysis, distance from treatment center, as a continuous variable, was not a significant factor for death (hazard ratio, 1.001; 95% confidence interval, 1.000-1.001). Multivariable analysis showed nonsignificant trend of increased mortality for patients traveling > 100 miles to a cancer center. CONCLUSION: This study did not demonstrate an association between distance from an academic cancer center and OS in AML. This finding should provide some assurance to patients who live farther away from academic centers.
Authors: Vijaya Raj Bhatt; Prajwal Dhakal; Sumit Dahal; Smith Giri; Ranjan Pathak; R Gregory Bociek; Peter T Silberstein; James O Armitage Journal: Ther Adv Hematol Date: 2015-10
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