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

N Natalie Wuliji (1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, SEATTLE, United States) S Salene M. W. Jones (3Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA) T Ted Gooley A Aaron T. Gerds (4Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) B Bruno C. Medeiros (5Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA) P Paul J. Shami (32Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT) J John Galvin (4Incyte Corporation, Wilmington, United States) K Kehinde Adekola (8Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL) S Selina Luger (14University of Pennsylvania/ Abrahmson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, United States) M Maria R. Baer (10University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD) D David Rizzieri (6Novant Health Cancer Institute, Charlotte, United States) T Tanya M. Wildes (12Division of Oncology and Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE) E Eunice S. Wang (30Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY) M Mikkael A. Sekeres (14University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL) S Sudipto Mukherjee (1Cleveland Clinic, Internal Medicine, Cleveland, United States) J Julie Smith (1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States) M Mitchell Garrison (15Confluence Health/Wenatchee Valley Hospital and Clinic, Wenatchee, WA) K Kiarash Kojouri (16Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, WA) J Jacob Appelbaum (1University of Washington, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Seattle, United States) M Mary-Elizabeth Percival (1University of Washington, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Seattle, United States) B Brenda M. Sandmaier (2Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA) S Stephanie Lee F Frederick R. Appelbaum (1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA) R Rayne Rouce (18Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX) M Mohamed L. Sorror (1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA)

Abstract

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.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 25
Published June 19, 2025
Pages 3041-3051
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (25)

N

Natalie Wuliji

1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, SEATTLE, United States

S

Salene M. W. Jones

3Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA

T

Ted Gooley

A

Aaron T. Gerds

4Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

B

Bruno C. Medeiros

5Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA

P

Paul J. Shami

32Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT

J

John Galvin

4Incyte Corporation, Wilmington, United States

K

Kehinde Adekola

8Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

S

Selina Luger

14University of Pennsylvania/ Abrahmson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, United States

M

Maria R. Baer

10University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD

D

David Rizzieri

6Novant Health Cancer Institute, Charlotte, United States

T

Tanya M. Wildes

12Division of Oncology and Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

E

Eunice S. Wang

30Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY

M

Mikkael A. Sekeres

14University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL

S

Sudipto Mukherjee

1Cleveland Clinic, Internal Medicine, Cleveland, United States

J

Julie Smith

1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, United States

M

Mitchell Garrison

15Confluence Health/Wenatchee Valley Hospital and Clinic, Wenatchee, WA

K

Kiarash Kojouri

16Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon, WA

J

Jacob Appelbaum

1University of Washington, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Seattle, United States

M

Mary-Elizabeth Percival

1University of Washington, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), Seattle, United States

B

Brenda M. Sandmaier

2Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

S

Stephanie Lee

F

Frederick R. Appelbaum

1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA

R

Rayne Rouce

18Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

M

Mohamed L. Sorror

1Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA