Abstract:
Background: In 1993, a study was conducted at the University of Kansas Hospital regarding the effect of age on survival in
acute leukemia patients between the years 1947 and 1990, which showed improvement in survival for all age groups less than 60 years of age, but only negligible improvement for those over age 60. Our research was initiated in order to gauge
whether any further changes in survival of patients over the age of 60 had occurred between 1990 and 2005. Additionally,
we were interested in comparing length of survival for patients treated at the University of Kansas Hospital with those
treated elsewhere in the state of Kansas. Methods: Chart review of the 118 patients who fit our previous criteria and were
treated for acute leukemia at the University of Kansas Hospital was conducted. Age at diagnosis, date of diagnosis, and survival were among the statistics recorded. The Kansas Cancer Registry provided correlating survival statistics for the 736 patients treated throughout the rest of the state during the same period of time. Length of survival was compared between the two sets of patients. Results: Data from the University of Kansas Hospital showed improvements in both median and
one- and two-year survivals compared to the state as a whole [median 218 days v 71 days]. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-
rank tests were also conducted. The p-value for the log-rank test was .0002, indicating a significant statistical difference in survival between KU and non-KU acute leukemia patients. Analysis: The data seem to indicate improvements in care and/or therapeutic strategies since 1990 have improved survival rates for patients over age 60 with acute leukemia.
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