Acute leukemia patients ‘particularly vulnerable’ to financial toxicity of care

CHICAGO — In a recent survey, about half of patients with acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia reported being affected by financial toxicity of care, which was associated with lower mental and physical scores and a nonsignificant trend in decreased survival, according to data presented at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Greg Knight, MD, physician in the leukemia division and department of hematologic oncology and blood disorders at the Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, and colleagues found that financial toxicity was more likely to be reported by younger patients, black patients and those with Medicaid insurance.