Evaluation of infectious complications in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a prospective cohort study from the Canadian MDS registry

Infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Precise estimates of infection frequency and severity with modern therapies are uncertain. We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort enrolled in a Canadian MDS registry and characterized the frequency and severity of infectious complications. Among 1,115 patients enrolled in the registry from 2006 to 2022, 349 (31%) experienced fever/infection, 207 (19%) were hospitalized due to fever/infection, and 95 (9%) died from fever/infection. Patients with severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count