Epidemiology and prognostic factors of acute erythroid leukemia.

BACKGROUND

Acute erythroid leukemia (AEL) is a rare, highly aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by a propensity for early progression and recurrence and is associated with an unfavorable overall prognosis. However, the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors associated with AEL remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to examine the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and survival trends associated with AEL.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of AEL data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2021) to examine incidence across age groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with early mortality, while univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Among 919 patients, the annual incidence rate of AEL showed a declining trend, with higher incidence observed in males than in females. The 60-69-year age group had the highest incidence rate compared to other age groups. Multivariate logistic regression identified the year of diagnosis, age, and chemotherapy as significant risk factors for early mortality. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis also revealed that year of diagnosis, age, and chemotherapy were associated with poor prognosis in patients with AEL.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of AEL has decreased, survival outcomes have not improved significantly. Early detection and more aggressive treatment strategies are necessary to address the poor outcomes associated with AEL.