Neutropenic enterocolitis in acute myeloid leukemia: A nationwide inpatient cross-sectional study

Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is an uncommon but serious complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), often arising during periods of myelosuppression. Although recognized clinically, its broader impact on hospitalization outcomes and healthcare utilization in AML is poorly defined. To evaluate the association between NE and key inpatient outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges among patients with AML, this retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2018 to 2022. Multivariable models were fitted using survey-weighted logistic regression for mortality and Poisson regression with a log link for LOS and charges, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs), with corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Among an estimated 344,545 AML hospitalizations, 3865 involved NE, which were associated with significantly longer hospitalizations and higher costs. In adjusted models, NE increased LOS by nearly 50 % (aIRR: 1.47, 95 % CI: 1.41-1.54) and total charges by over 40 % (aIRR: 1.44, 95 % CI: 1.35-1.53), with both associations being highly significant (p < 0.0001). In contrast, NE was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR: 0.89, 95 % CI: 0.75-1.06; p = 0.20). This study's findings indicate that, though NE was not a predictor of mortality, it is a strong driver of healthcare utilization in patients hospitalized with AML. These findings underscore NE's importance as a complication with major clinical and economic implications, highlighting the need for strategies to improve recognition and management in this vulnerable population.