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Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a critical complication of chemotherapy associated with increased in‐hospital mortality. However, associations with increased mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions during longer follow‐up are not established. Patients treated with standard first‐line chemotherapy for solid cancers at Rigshospitalet, Denmark in 2010‐2016 were included. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of all‐cause, infectious and cardiovascular mortality, and ICU admissions after FN were analyzed by Poisson regression. Risk factors at the time of FN were analyzed in the subpopulation of patients with FN; all‐cause mortality was further stratified by the time periods 0‐30, 31‐365, and 366+ days after FN. We included 9018 patients with gastric (14.4%) and breast (13.1%) cancer being the most common, 51.2% had locally advanced or disseminated disease and the patients had a median Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 0 (interquartile range, 0‐0). During follow‐up, 845 (9.4%) experienced FN and 4483 (49.7%) died during 18 775 person‐years of follow‐up. After adjustment, FN was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality, infectious mortality, and ICU admissions with IRRs of 1.39 (95% CI, 1.24‐1.56), 1.94 (95% CI, 1.43‐2.62), and 2.28 (95% CI, 1.60‐3.24). Among those with FN, having a positive blood culture and low lymphocytes were associated with excess risk of death and ICU admissions (predominantly the first 30 days after FN), while elevated C‐reactive protein and low hemoglobin predicted mortality the first year after FN. The risk of death varied according to the time since FN; adjusted IRR per additional risk factor present for the time periods 0‐30, 31‐365, and 366+ days after FN were 2.00 (95% CI, 1.45‐2.75), 1.36 (95% CI, 1.17‐1.57), and 1.17 (95% CI, 0.98‐1.41). FN was associated with increased mortality and risk of ICU admissions. An objectively identifiable subgroup of patients among those with FN carried this excess risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absolute risk reduction by prophylaxis in chemotherapy‐induced febrile neutropenia (FN) is largest in patients at highest underlying risk. Therefore, reliable predictive models are needed. Here, we develop and validate such a model for risk of FN during chemotherapy cycles 2–6. A prediction score for risk of FN during the first cycle has recently been published. Patients with solid cancers initiating first‐line chemotherapy in 2010–2016 were included. Cycle‐specific risk factors were assessed by Poisson regression using generalized estimating equations and random split sampling. The derivation cohort included 4,590 patients treated with 15,419 cycles, wherein 326 (2.1%) FN events occurred. Predictors of FN in multivariable analyses were: higher predicted risk of FN in the first cycle, platinum‐ or taxane‐containing therapies, concurrent radiotherapy, treatment in cycle 2 compared to later cycles, previous FN or neutropenia and not receiving granulocyte colony‐stimulating factors. Each predictor added between −2 and 8 points to each patient's score (median score 4; interquartile range, 1–6). The incidence rate ratios for developing FN in the intermediate (score 1–4), high (score 5–6) and very high risk groups (score ≥7) were 7.8 (95% CI, 2.4–24.9), 18.6 (95% CI, 5.9–58.8) and 51.7 (95% CI, 16.5–162.3) compared to the low risk group (score ≤0), respectively. The score had good discriminatory ability with a Harrell's C‐statistic of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.76–0.80) in the derivation and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72–0.78) in the validation cohort (patient n = 2,295, cycle n = 7,670). The Cycle‐Specific Risk of FEbrile Neutropenia after ChEmotherapy score is the first published method to estimate cycle‐specific risk of FN. What's new? Febrile neutropenia (FN), involving fever and abnormally low neutrophil count, is a severe complication of chemotherapy. Current guidelines suggest assessing FN risk at the start of each chemotherapy cycle in order to prevent or better manage the condition if it arises. Here, to improve FN prediction, the authors developed the Cycle‐Specific Risk of FEbrile Neutropenia after ChEmotherapy (CSRFENCE) score. Risk factors were analyzed by Poisson regression for 6,885 patients with solid cancers who received standard first‐line chemotherapy in cycles 2‐6. In derivation and validation cohorts, the CSRFENCE score was found to successfully predict FN risk at cycle initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine whether GCA is associated with increased mortality.Methods. We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study including all individuals who between 1993 and 2011 were registered in the Danish National Hospital Register and the Danish Pathology Register with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of GCA (n = 1787). Through the Danish Civil Registration System we identified a comparison cohort of 33 953 persons from the background population, individually matched on age and sex. Data on causes of death were obtained from the Danish Registry of Causes of Death. We used Poisson regression to determine mortality rate ratios as estimates of relative risk of death and specific causes of death.Results. Compared with the general population, the relative risk (RR) of death in patients diagnosed with GCA was 1.17 (95% CI 1.01, 1.36) and 1.22 (95% CI 1.05, 1.41) 0–2 years and >10 years after diagnosis, respectively, whereas we observed no increased mortality during the follow-up period of 2–10 years [RR 0.96 (95% CI 0.88, 1.05)]. The increased mortality during the first 2 years of follow-up was mainly due to diseases of the circulatory system, including aortic aneurisms.Conclusion. GCA is associated with slightly increased early and late mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at increased risk of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). International HIV guidelines suggest cervical screening twice the first year after HIV diagnosis and thereafter annually. Adherence to the HIV cervical screening program in Denmark is unknown. Methods We studied women from a population-based, nationwide HIV cohort in Denmark and a cohort of age-matched females from the general population. Screening behaviour was assessed from 1999-2010. Adjusted odds ratios (OR's) for screening attendance in the two cohorts and potential predictors of attendance to guidelines were estimated. Pathology specimens were identified from The Danish Pathology Data Bank. Results We followed 1143 WLWH and 17,145 controls with no prior history of ICC for 9,509 and 157,362 person-years. The first year after HIV diagnosis 2.6% of WLWH obtained the recommended two cervical cytologies. During the different calendar intervals throughout the study period between 29-46% of WLWH followed the HIV cervical screening guidelines. Adjusted OR's of attendance to the general population screening program for WLWH aged 30, 40 and 50 years, compared to controls, were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.56-0.87), 0.67 (0.55-0.80) and 0.84 (0.61-1.15). Predictors of attendance to the HIV cervical screening program were a CD4 count > 350 cells/μL and HIV RNA < 500 copies/mL. Calendar period after 2002 and HIV RNA < 500 copies/mL predicted attendance to the general population cervical screening program. Conclusions The majority of WLWH do not follow the HIV guidelines for cervical screening. We support the idea of cytology as part of an annual review and integration of HIV care and cervical screening in a single clinic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) after chemotherapy causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop and validate a risk score to predict FN in the first cycle of chemotherapy. Methods We included patients with solid cancers and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2010-2016. Predictors of FN were analyzed using Poisson regression and random split-sampling. Results Among 6294 patients in the derivation cohort, 360 developed FN. Female sex, older age, cancer type, disease stage, low albumin, elevated bilirubin, low creatinine clearance, infection before chemotherapy, and number of and type of chemotherapy drugs predicted FN. Compared with those at low risk (n = 2520, 40.0%), the incidence rate ratio of developing FN was 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9 to 8.1), 8.7 (95% CI = 5.3 to 14.1) and 24.0 (95% CI = 15.2 to 38.0) in the intermediate (n = 1294, 20.6%), high (n = 1249, 19.8%) and very high (n = 1231, 19.6%) risk groups, respectively, corresponding to a number needed to treat with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors to avoid one FN event in the first cycle of 284, 60, 34 and 14. The discriminatory ability (Harrell's C-statistic = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.78 to 0.82) was similar in the validation cohort (n   =   3163) (0.79, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.82). Conclusion We developed and internally validated a risk score for FN in the first cycle of chemotherapy. The FENCE score is available online and provides good differentiation of risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common complication to chemotherapy, associated with increased short-term morbidity and mortality. However, the long-term outcomes after FN are poorly elucidated. We examined the long-term risk of infection and mortality rates in cancer patients with and without FN. Methods Patients aged >16 years treated with firstline chemotherapy were followed from 180 days after initiating chemotherapy until first infection, a new treatment with chemotherapy, death, or end of follow-up. Risk factors for infections were analyzed by competing risks regression, with death or another treatment with chemotherapy as competing events. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) of infection and death were analyzed using Poisson regression. In analyses of mortality, infection was included as a time-updated variable. Results We included 7190 patients with a median follow-up (interquartile range) of 0.58 (0.20–1.71) year. A total of 1370 patients had an infection during follow-up. The aIRRs of infection were 1.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56–2.22) and 2.19 (95% CI, 1.54–3.11) for patients with 1 or >1 episode of FN compared with those without FN. Mortality rate ratios were 7.52 (95% CI, 6.67–8.48) <1 month after, 4.24 (95% CI, 3.80–4.75) 1–3 months after, 2.33 (95% CI, 1.63–3.35) 3–6 months after, and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.93–1.29) >6 months after an infection, compared with the time before infection. Conclusions FN during chemotherapy is associated with a long-term increased risk of infection. Mortality rates are substantially increased for 6 months following an infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lymphopenia has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with cancer. We sought to describe the lymphocyte kinetics in patients who received radiation therapy; to identify factors associated with the end-of-radiation-therapy (EoRT) lymphocyte count; and to determine the association of radiation therapy-induced lymphopenia with subsequent infection.Methods and Materials: Patients with solid malignant tumors treated at the Department of Oncology at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, were included if they had received their first external beam radiation therapy with curative intent from January 2005 to December 2016 and had pretreatment and EoRT lymphocyte counts measured. Factors associated with the EoRT lymphocyte count were identified using regression analyses. The risk of subsequent infection was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression.Results: We included 3920 patients. More patients had lymphopenia (<1000 cells/μL) at EoRT than at pretreatment (67.1% vs 14.9%; P < .001). Patients who received schemes with higher intensities (equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions [EQD2] >65 Gy) in shorter time (<25 days) had a higher predicted EoRT lymphocyte count than patients who received schemes delivering EQD2 of 50 to 65 Gy in 25 to 45 days (1439 cells/μL, 95% confidence interval [1293-1585] vs 784 [754-814]). Radiation to multiple sites and concomitant chemotherapy use, particularly platinum compounds versus none, were associated with a lower EoRT lymphocyte count (698 [655-742] vs 852 [833-870]; and 612 [565-659] vs 937 [909-964], respectively). Patients with EoRT lymphopenia grade ≥3 (<500 cells/μL) had a higher risk of infection in the 3 months after radiation therapy (hazard ratio, 2.15 [95% confidence interval, 1.53-3.02]; P < .001), compared with patients with an EoRT lymphocyte count >1000 cells/μL.Conclusions: The lymphocyte count declined during radiation therapy. Short duration schemes (<25 days), despite high total radiation dose (EQD2 >65 Gy), were associated with a higher EoRT lymphocyte count, whereas radiation to multiple sites and concomitant chemotherapy were associated with a lower count. EoRT lymphopenia was associated with an increased risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]