Introduction
Antigenic stimulation is a proposed aetiologic mechanism for many
haematological malignancies. Limited evidence suggests that
community-acquired infections may increase the risk of acute myeloid
leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, associations
with other myeloid malignancies including chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are unknown.
Material and Methods
Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER)-Medicare
database, fourteen community-acquired infections were compared between
myeloid malignancy patients [AML (n=8,489), CML
(n=3,626) diagnosed 1992–2005; MDS (n=3,072) and
MPNs (n=2,001) diagnosed 2001–2005; and controls (200,000
for AML/CML and 97,681 for MDS/MPN]. Odds ratios (ORs) and
95% confidence intervals were adjusted for gender, age and year of
selection excluding infections diagnosed in the 13 month period prior to
selection to reduce reverse causality.
Results
Risk of AML and MDS respectively, were significantly associated with
respiratory tract infections, bronchitis (ORs 1.20 [95% CI:
1.14–1.26], 1.25 [95% CI:
1.16–1.36]), influenza (ORs 1.16 [95%
CI:1.07–1.25], 1.29 [95% CI:
1.16–1.44]), pharyngitis (ORs 1.13 [95% CI:
1.06–1.21], 1.22 [95% CI:
1.11–1.35]), pneumonia (ORs 1.28 [95% CI:
1.21–1.36], 1.52 [95% CI:
1.40–1.66]), sinusitis (ORs 1.23 [95% CI:
1.16–1.30], 1.25 [95% CI:
1.15–1.36]) as was cystitis (ORs 1.13 [95%
CI: 1.07–1.18], 1.26 [95% CI:
1.17–1.36]). Cellulitis (OR 1.51 [95% CI:
1.39–1.64]), herpes zoster (OR 1.31 [95% CI:
1.14–1.50]) and gastroenteritis (OR 1.38
[95% CI: 1.17–1.64]) were more common in MDS
patients than controls. For CML, associations were limited to bronchitis (OR
1.21 [95% CI: 1.12–1.31]), pneumonia (OR
1.49 [95% CI: 1.37–1.62]), sinusitis (OR
1.19 [95% CI: 1.09–1.29]) and cellulitis (OR
1.43 [95% CI: 1.32–1.55]) following
Bonferroni correction. Only cellulitis (OR 1.34 [95% CI:
1.21–1.49]) remained significant in MPN patients. Many
infections remained elevated when more than 6 years of preceding claims data
were excluded.
Discussion
Common community-acquired infections may be important in the
malignant transformation of the myeloid lineage. Differences in the
aetiology of classic MPNs and other myeloid malignancies require further
exploration.