Hispanic Children Hospitalized With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Are at Increased Risk of Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND

There have been remarkable advances in overall survival following the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood, but toxicities, including pancreatitis, remain a concern. Pancreatitis occurs early in therapy, before extensive exposure to the chemotherapy agents associated with its development, indicating there are underlying risk factors for some children. The role of race/ethnicity in treatment-related pancreatitis has not been well established.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and pancreatitis in children hospitalized with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the United States in 2016.

METHODS

This was an analysis of a nationally representative database of pediatric hospitalizations. The sample consisted of 21 775 records with documentation of the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses using the χ2 test, and multilevel logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Pancreatitis was documented in 1.6% of hospital discharges. Compared with white children, Hispanic children were at increased risk of pancreatitis during hospitalization (P = .002). There were no differences among black (P = .469), Asian (P = .364), or other-race children (P = .937).

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic children hospitalized with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at greater risk of pancreatitis than white children. Reasons for this disparity are likely due to both genetic and social factors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses must be active participants in the research process with the goal of enrolling patients with diverse backgrounds in clinical trials. Inclusive research will provide increased understanding of a holistic toxicity risk profile.