title: Risk factors for febrile neutropenia among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: A systematic review.
abstract: Neutropenia with fever (febrile neutropenia [FN]) is a serious consequence of myelosuppressive chemotherapy that usually results in hospitalization and the need for intravenous antibiotics. FN may result in dose reductions, delays, or even discontinuation of chemotherapy, which, in turn, may compromise patient outcomes. It is important to identify which patients are at high risk for developing FN so that patients can receive optimal chemotherapy while their risk for FN is appropriately managed. A systematic review of the literature was performed to gain a comprehensive and updated understanding of FN risk factors. Older age, poor performance status, advanced disease, certain comorbidities, low baseline blood cell counts, low body surface area/body mass index, treatment with myelosuppressive chemotherapies, and specific genetic polymorphisms correlated with the risk of developing FN. Albeit many studies have analyzed FN risk factors, there are several limitations, including the retrospective nature and small sample sizes of most studies.
authors.affiliation: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: glyman@fhcrc.org.
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lyman
authors.affiliation: Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abella
authors.affiliation: St. George's University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pettengell
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064147:Febrile Neutropenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Febrile neutropenia; Risk factor