A Study to Assess the Burden of Hematological Malignancies at a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Hematological malignancies place a significant financial and medical burden on the affected patients. Well-equipped oncology centers providing healthcare for these patients are also sparse. By studying the epidemiology of those diagnosed with hematological malignancies, it can be correlated with the outcomes and compared with global and national trends. This will allow healthcare decision-makers at all levels to make informed decisions, while allocating resources to combat hematological malignancies. This study is aimed at understanding the pattern of various hematological malignancies presenting at a tertiary care center including their clinical profile, risk factors, etiology and presentation. This was an observational prospective study conducted in King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India. Patients aged 12 years and above suffering from hematological malignancies were recruited from the medical wards. The history and systemic examination findings were recorded from patients’ records. The patients were treated as per the discretion of the treating physician and all investigations advised by the treating physician were noted in the respective case record forms. The maximum cases were from the age group 36–50 years, i.e., 32 in number (40%), followed by the age group 51–65 years (25%). A greater number of male patients were encountered than female ones (67.5% vs 32.5%). Most of the patients were unskilled laborers followed by semi-skilled workers. Pesticide exposure was the commonest etiological factor reported in 16 (20%) patients, followed by exposure to silica that was reported in nine patients (11.25%). The common age group to encounter hematological malignancies in patients is 36–50 years, being more prevalent among males. History of exposure to risk factors such as pesticides is commonly seen. Factors such as age and family history do not correlate with the outcome. Females tend to have a better outcome than males.