Impact of Survivorship Care Plans (SCP) on Mortality in a Contemporary Cohort of Pediatric Patients Diagnosed with a Blood Cancer
Authors: Castellino Sharon M. , Williamson Lewis Rebecca , Effinger Karen E , Mertens Ann C. , Lipscomb Joseph , Ji Xu 
Published: December 2023

Background: The 5-year overall survival for pediatric blood cancer (i.e., leukemia, lymphoma) is greater than 85%. However, blood cancers and their treatment predispose survivors to the risk of late effects and premature mortality. This study examines the association between the receipt of a personalized survivorship care plan (SCP) and mortality among survivors of childhood blood cancer.

Methods: This retrospective cohort included survivors who were treated for a newly diagnosed blood cancer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) between 2002-2016 and in remission for ≥2 years post-treatment (i.e., eligible to be seen in Aflac Cancer Survivor Clinic). Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine SCP receipt and mortality through 12/31/2020 based on linkage to the National Death Index. The cumulative incidence of death was estimated from the time of eligibility for survivor clinic until the date of death, 12/31/2020, or five years (y) post-eligibility date, whichever occurred earlier. A multivariable Cox proportional-hazard model was used, with SCP receipt as a time-dependent variable, to estimate the association between SCP receipt and 5-year mortality, controlling for age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, and cancer therapy exposure.

Results: Among the 1,239 eligible survivors identified, 982 (79.3%) received a SCP at a median time of 0.50 y (IQR: 0.21, 0.84 y) from eligibility for survivor clinic. Recipients of a SCP (vs. non-recipients) were more likely to be female (44.8% vs. 38.1%; p=0.055), non-Hispanic White (56.6% vs. 47.5%; p=0.006), and younger at the initial cancer diagnosis (mean ± SD age: 8.4 ± 5.4 vs. 11.0 ± 5.8 y; p&lt;0.001). Receiving a SCP differed by cancer type: 82.3% of patients diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), 86.3% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and 80.6% of other leukemia patients received a SCP vs. 68.6% of Hodgkin lymphoma patients and 76.1% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients (p&lt;0.001). Therapy exposure differed among SCP recipients, with 75.6% receiving chemotherapy alone, 12.9% chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and 11.5% stem cell transplantation (SCT)

The unadjusted 5-year survival was not significantly different between survivors who received a SCP and those who did not (98.8% [95% CI: 98.1, 99.6] vs. 96.4% [93.9%, 98.9%], p=0.065). In multivariable analysis, receipt of a SCP was marginally associated with a lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.14, 1.01], p=0.053; Table 1). Additionally, receipt of SCT (aHR: 9.16 [95% CI: 3.34, 25.1], p&lt;0.001) was associated with a higher risk of death.

Conclusions: Early evaluation of our cohort eligible for a survivorship clinic suggests an association between the receipt of a SCP and a higher adjusted 5-year survival in pediatric blood cancer survivors. Receiving an SCT remains an independent risk factor for mortality. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort allows for the assessment of mortality trajectory and pattern. Capture of healthcare utilization will inform the impact of survivorship care and further define lifetime risk after contemporary treatment.