title: Applying the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer risk scoring in predicting outcome of febrile neutropenia patients in a cohort of patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk-index score is able to predict the outcome of febrile neutropenia in patients with underlying hematological malignancy and to look at the other possible predictors of outcome. A retrospective study of 116 episodes of febrile neutropenia in patients who were admitted to the hematology ward of a local medical center in Malaysia between January 1st 2004 and January 31st 2005. Patient characteristics and the MASCC score were compared with outcome. The MASCC score predicted the outcome of febrile neutropenic episodes with a positive predictive value of 82.9%, a sensitivity of 93%, and specificity of 67%. Other predictors of a favorable outcome were those patients who had lymphomas versus leukemias, duration of neutropenia of less than 7 days, low burden of illness characterized by the absence of an infective focus and absence of lower respiratory tract infection, a serum albumin of >25 g/l, and the absence of gram-negative bacteremia on univariate analysis but only serum albumin level, low burden of illness, and presence of respiratory infection were significantly associated with unfavorable outcome after multivariate analysis. The MASCC score is a useful predictor of outcome in patients with febrile neutropenia with underlying hematological malignancies. This scoring system may be adapted for use in local settings to guide the clinical management of patients with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kajang Hospital, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nirmala Devi
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Baskaran
authors.forename: Gin Gin
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Kamarulzaman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adeeba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007297:Inpatients / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents