Social support and survival in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia

The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of the reported availability of social support on the 2-year survival of patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML).

Fifty patients with newly diagnosed AML were asked to rate the level of available social support after diagnosis was made, but before the start of chemotherapy. Social support was assessed with the F-SozU, and information about confounding variables (age, functional status, intensity of chemotherapy, cytogenetic risk group) was collected. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to analyze predictors of 2-year survival.

Higher levels of available social support predicted better survival, even after controlling for age, functional status, dosage of chemotherapy, and cytogenetic risk group. Within social support, the availability of instrumental support showed more consistent associations with 2-year survival than the availability of emotional support.

For patients with AML, the availability of social support is relevant for decreased mortality, after accounting for age, functional impairment, dosage of chemotherapy and cytogenetic risk group.