Risk Factors Associated with In-Hospital Post-Chemotherapy Mortality in Patients with Malignant Musculoskeletal Tumors

Abstract

Introduction: Reducing the in-hospital post-chemotherapy mortality rate in patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumors is important for improving treatment outcome. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with in-hospital post-chemotherapy mortality in patients with primary malignant musculoskeletal tumors. Methods: Using a Japanese national inpatient database, we retrospectively identified 5039 patients (2920 men and 2131 women; mean age, 39 years) who underwent curative chemotherapy for malignant musculoskeletal tumors between 2007 and 2010. We extracted data on the patients’ characteristics, complications, chemotherapeutic agent use, comorbidities, and in-hospital death. Logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze factors affecting in-hospital post-chemotherapy death in these patients. Results: The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 1.1%. Higher in-hospital mortality rates were significantly associated with a greater volume of blood transfusion (>2500 mL) (odds ratio [OR], 49.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.24 - 111.12; p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR, 3.05; 95% CI: 1.21 - 7.70; p = 0.019), and older age (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.11 - 8.37; p = 0.031). Conclusions: Higher in-hospital post-chemotherapy mortality rates were associated with massive blood transfusion, which was associated with a 16-fold higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared with other risk factors. Blood transfusion volume should be considered an important indicator for deciding whether the next cycle of chemotherapy is administered continuously or not.