Individual-Level Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Measures and Treatment Complications in Acute Leukemia

Background Population studies demonstrate widening survival disparities in AML survival. In our previous analysis, census tract-based measures of socioeconomic status accounted for most of the AML death disparity for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic patients (pts) suggesting that patients' social and physical environments contribute to poor AML endpoints (Abraham et al. Blood 2022). However, these data are retrospective and only provide neighborhood-level information. We prospectively collected individual level data on SDOH and linked this to treatment delivery and complications. Methods Patients were prospectively enrolled from two institutions: a comprehensive cancer center and a minority-serving cancer center for a planned 2 year follow-up. A mixed-methods approach utilized validated questionnaires and semi-structured interviews administered to patients 30-90 days from diagnosis and data was collected on adherence, falls, infections, ER visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admission. Quantitative measures included patient neighborhood and environmental living conditions (AHC HRSN), health literacy (CHLT-6), financial toxicity (COST-FACIT), medication affordability/adherence (ARMS), and mental health (PHQ-4). Quantitative data was supplemented with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews from a subset of patients. We used linear regression to estimate statistical differences in means between groups. Results We report results from 52 patients, predominantly with AML and high-risk MDS followed for up to 6 months. Baseline characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Median age was 62 years. 38% were non-Hispanic White (NHW), 25% NHB, and 23% Hispanic and lived in socioeconomically diverse census tracts. Half the cohort had a high school education or less. 40% had an annual income level < $25,000. 40% pts had a Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) ≥ 5. On the AHC HRSN tool, housing and food insecurity were reported in 10% and 15%, respectively, 40% reported difficulty paying for basic needs and 22% loneliness/isolation. In terms of care delivery, pts aged ≥ 65 years were more likely to miss clinic visits (p=0.026) and chemotherapy treatments (p=0.005). Non-white (p=0.13) pts and those on public insurance (p=0.04) were also more likely to miss clinic visits. Education level, income, and marital status were not associated with missed visits/treatments. Assessing treatment complications 60% of ER visits occurred with annual household incomes under $50,000