title: Impact of age and colony-stimulating factor use on hospital length of stay for febrile neutropenia in CHOP-treated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients, full-dose CHOP improves survival but increases myelosuppression, causing febrile neutropenia hospitalization (FNH) in 28% of patients 65 years of age or greater. Several risk factors for FNH are known, but their relationship to length of stay (LOS), an indicator of the total burden of FNH, is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study to identify factors associated with the incidence, recurrence, and duration of hospitalizations for FN and to describe the frequency of administration of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) as primary and secondary prophylaxis and its association with repeated hospitalization episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with patients who did not experience hospitalizations for FN, those who did were significantly older, had more comorbid conditions, were planned for standard dose intensity, and received CSF less often during the first 5 days of cycle 1 (early CSF). Overall, 73% of these hospitalizations occurred within the first 2 cycles of chemotherapy, with 56% occurring within the first cycle. Patients age > or = 65 years accounted for 66% of cycle 1 FNH. Patients receiving early CSF were less likely to experience repeated hospitalizations (0% vs 12%; P<.05). Multiple regression analysis of those hospitalized found a 3.9-day longer LOS for patients age > or = 65 years and a 5.13-day longer LOS for those not receiving early CSF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older NHL patients have a higher risk of hospitalization for FN and longer LOS. The majority of hospitalization days occur in the first 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Early CSF use is associated with decreased risk of repeated hospitalizations and shorter total LOS. Secondary CSF use is also associated with reduced risk of repeated FNH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. chrischilles@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chrischilles
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Stolshek
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lawless
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D007902:Length of Stay; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone