Study paints clearer picture of disadvantaged leukemia patients' struggle to get bone marrow transplants

SAN DIEGO — Bone marrow transplants can be lifesaving for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, but new research reveals how socioeconomic factors create barriers to treatment and higher death rates for people living in disadvantaged communities.

A scientific team led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center tracked AML patients across academic and community treatment centers. They found that patients from disadvantaged areas were both more likely to die without a bone marrow transplant and less likely to receive one compared to people from more-educated and affluent communities. Specifically, living in a neighborhood with lower education levels led to 33% lower odds of receiving a bone marrow transplant, a statistically significant effect. In contrast, the survival rate after a transplant was not significantly different for those from disadvantaged communities.

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