Qualidade de vida e preditores de infecção fúngica invasiva em pacientes internados com leucemias agudas

Abstract

Introduction: Leukemias are a group of malignant bone marrow neoplasms characterized by an increase in leukemic cells. Patients with this neoplasm are more exposed and have a greater risk of developing infections, especially invasive fungal infections. Objective: to verify the level of quality of life and predictive variables of fungal infection in patients hospitalized with acute leukemias in a tertiary hospital in the northwest zone of the state of Ceará, Brazil. Methodology: Patients over 18 years of age with acute leukemia who were hospitalized during the months of September 2022 to January 2023 were included. Demographic and clinical data of the sample were collected. The diagnosis of fungal infection was according to ASCO/Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria. Quality of life was assessed on the first day of hospitalization by applying the SF-36 questionnaire. In the multivariate analysis, the prevalence ratio of possible predictors of death and fungal infection was determined using the Poisson regression method. To compare the scores of the quality of life dimensions, the MannWhitney test was used. Results: 20 patients were studied, 60% women, 12 cases (60%) of myeloid leukemia, 6 (30%) of lymphoid leukemia and 2 (10%) of mixed-type leukemia. There were 5 (25%) who had a fungal infection. There were 2 (10%) deaths, with the presence of fungal infection being the greatest predictor of death. Predictors for fungal infection were: low education, not being married, neutropenia less than 100. The dimensions of quality of life that were lowered in patients with fungal infection and who died were: functional capacity, pain, vitality and social aspects. Conclusion: We conclude that biological and socio-demographic factors impact the mortality of hospitalized patients with leukemia and we suggest that the approach to these patients should include interventions on the social support of patients.