Medical Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Family Perceptions for Outpatient vs Inpatient Neutropenia Management After Chemotherapy for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Kelly D. Getz, PhD; Julia E. Szymczak, PhD; Yimei Li, PhD; et al
Key Points
Question What are the clinical outcomes and patient and family experiences associated with outpatient neutropenia management after intensive chemotherapy for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared with inpatient management?
Findings In this cohort study including as many as 554 pediatric patients, patients discharged to outpatient management during neutropenia did not experience higher bacteremia incidence, delays to subsequent courses, or worse health-related quality of life compared with those who received inpatient management. Most patients and families were satisfied with the discharge practice offered by the treating institution, but experiences varied, suggesting that outpatient management may not be appropriate for all families.
Meaning These findings suggest that outpatient management during neutropenia was a viable approach without excess risk for many patients and was preferred by some families.