title: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients in Korea: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical characteristics of elderly patients with AML differ from those of younger patients, resulting in poorer survival and treatment outcomes. We analyzed retrospectively the clinical data of AML patients 65 years old and above to describe patients' characteristics and treatment patterns, and to define meaningful prognostic factors of survival in the Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic patients' characteristics, clinical outcomes according to treatments, and prognostic factors associated with survival and treatment intensity were examined in a total of 168 patients diagnosed in 5 institutes between 1996 and 2012 as having AML.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Herein, 84 patients (50.0%) received high-intensity regimens (HIR), 18 (10.7%) received low-intensity regimens (LIR), and 66 (39.3%) received supportive care (SC) only. The median survival of all patients was 4.5 months; and median survival times with HIR, LIR, and SC were 6.8 months, 10.2 months, and 1.6 months, respectively. Median survival times with HIR and LIR were significantly longer than that with SC (P<0.0001 and P=0.006, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-performance status (ECOG-PS), hemoglobin (Hb) level, and serum creatinine (Cr) level as statistically significant prognostic factors for survival. In the HIR group, prognostic factors for survival were ECOG-PS, Hb level, and C-reactive protein level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even in elderly AML patients, an intensive treatment regimen could be beneficial with careful patient selection. Further prospective studies designed to identify specific prognostic factors are required to establish an optimal treatment strategy for elderly AML patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Gyu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Junsik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Sik
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Guk Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jin
keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Chemotherapy; Elderly; Prognosis; Survival