Anemia Associated With Higher Mortality and AML Transformation Risk in Myelofibrosis
Key Takeaways:
- Among 18 504 patients with myelofibrosis (MF), those with anemia had significantly higher rates of death than those without.
- Patients with anemia were more likely to develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) than patients without.
- These findings suggest that anemia could be used as a prognostic marker to identify patients at increased risk of poor health outcomes.
Anemia is a common comorbidity among patients with MF, but its long-term impact on health outcomes remains unknown.
Researchers conducted a study to assess the effects of anemia on overall survival and risk of AML transformation in adults with MF.
A total of 18 504 patients were identified, and outcomes were evaluated at 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups.
Impact of Anemia on Survival and Health Outcomes
Patients with anemia had significantly higher mortality rates than those without. At year 1, 3, and 5 follow-ups, mortality rates were 21.4% vs 5.4%, 33.2% vs 12%, and 39% vs 16.9%, respectively.
Anemia was also associated with increased risk of AML transformation. Rates of transformation among patients with anemia were 3.7%, 4.9%, and 5.3% at years 1, 3, and 5, respectively. For patients without anemia, these rates were 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.4% at the same follow-ups.
Implications for Oncology Care
The study highlights the association between anemia and increased risk of death and AML transformation among patients with MF.
The authors said, “These findings support anemia as a pragmatic risk marker to inform risk-adapted monitoring, supportive care, and therapeutic decision-making in MF.”
Reference
Uttam Chandani K, Thukral J, Shah R, et al. Impact of anemia on real-world outcomes in myelofibrosis: a propensity-matched analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2026;44(16):e18609. doi:10.1200/JCO.2026.44.16_suppl.e18609
