Combination of Frailty Status and Comorbidity Score Improves the Stratification of Survival in Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome Owing to Good Predictive Capability for Infection-related Mortality

Abstract

BackgroundWe investigated the prognostic effects of frailty and its association with comorbidity in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients and MethodsThis retrospective analysis included 118 consecutive patients diagnosed with MDS. Frailty was evaluated using the clinical frailty scale (CFS). Comorbidity was classified using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and MDS comorbidity index (MDS-CI). ResultsOn multivariate analysis, CFS (≥ 5 vs. < 5; hazard ratio [HR], 3.37; P = .002), CCI (≥ 2 vs. < 2; HR, 2.59; P = .002), and Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) category (HR, 2.1; P = .009) were independently predictive of overall survival (OS). One-year OS of patients with CFS ≥ 5 or CCI ≥ 2 were significantly worse compared with those with CFS < 5 or CCI < 2 (55% vs. 91%; P < .001; 46% vs. 91%; P < .001, respectively). OS was clearly stratified into 3 groups according to CFS (≥ 5 vs. < 5) and CCI (≥ 2 vs. < 2; P < .001). When comparing these 3 groups, the incidence of infection-related mortality progressively increased with CFS ≥ 5 and/or CCI ≥ 2 (P < .001). This effect was more obvious in patients with lower IPSS-R. ConclusionThe present study suggests frailty and comorbidity may be patient-related, independent predictive factors of poor prognosis. This could probably be attributed to increasing infection-related mortality with frailty and comorbidity. Combining the evaluation of frailty and comorbidity with IPSS-R might aid in more precise prediction of OS, especially in patients with low risk of MDS.