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Socioeconomic Status Impact on Chronic GVHD

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant; ePub 2017 Oct 12; Hamilton, et al

Publish date:: November 25, 2017

Certain socioeconomic factors were linked with improved chronic graft-versus host disease (GVHD) symptom scores in a study involving 421 individuals. However, they had no impact on survival and non-relapse mortality. Participants had chronic GVHD. Investigators looked at the impact income, education, marital status, and work status had on outcomes and non-relapse and overall mortality. Among the results:

Higher income, ability to work, and having a partner were linked with better chronic GVHD symptom scores.
Higher income, level of education, and ability to work were significantly linked with better quality of life and improved activity.
Higher income and ability to return to work were both significantly linked with better chronic GVHD scores.
Those unable to return to work experienced worse overall mortality.
None of the socioeconomic status indicators were linked with non-relapse mortality.
Income, race, and education did not impact survival.

Citation:

Hamilton B, Rybicki L, Arai S, et al. Association of socioeconomic status with chronic graft-versus-host disease outcomes. [Published online ahead of print October 12, 2017]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.10.009.

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