Return to work and work-related disability among AML survivors

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a serious blood cancer with increasing long-term survivors due to advances in treatment.
• Employment issues and return to work (RTW) after AML treatment are understudied.
• Long-term effects of intensive chemotherapy (IC) on survivors' employment are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the long-term effects of conventional intensive chemotherapy (IC) on employment rates, work-related limitations, and productivity in adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) survivors.
• To be the first study to use the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ-16) to evaluate RTW in AML survivors.
• To understand the functional recovery and employment trajectory of AML survivors post-treatment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 111 adult AML survivors, one year post-conventional IC, were evaluated.
• The validated Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ-16) was used to measure work-related limitations and productivity.
• Data were collected at multiple time points up to 36 months post-treatment to track changes in employment status and work limitations.

Main Results:

• The employment rate among AML survivors increased over time, reaching 54% by 36 months post-treatment.
• The majority of employed survivors worked full-time, with decreasing numbers of unemployed, retired, or on sick leave.
• Employed survivors reported minimal work-related limitations and low productivity loss (2.34% at 36 months).

Conclusions:

• Over half of AML survivors treated with IC achieve return to work within three years.
• AML survivors demonstrate significant recovery in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical functions necessary for employment.
• The findings suggest that intensive chemotherapy for AML allows for substantial functional recovery, enabling survivors to return to work with few limitations.