Predictors of Early and Late Mortality for Patients with Hematologic Malignancy and Invasive Mold Disease

Background: Invasive mold infections (IMI) are leading infectious causes of mortality among patients with hematological malignancies. Objectives: To determine the relative contribution of host, disease, and treatment-related factors to patient survival. Methods: An observational, retrospective cohort study reviewing the medical records of patients with hematological malignancy and IMI (2006–2016). Causes of death were classified up to 90 days after diagnosis. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to determine risk factors for early, late, and overall mortality. Results: Eighty-six patients with IMI were included; 29 (34%) and 41 (47%) died within 6 and 12 weeks of diagnosis, respectively. Death was attributed to IMI in 22 (53.6%) patients, all of whom died within 45 days of diagnosis. Risk factors for early mortality were elevated serum galactomannan, treatment with amphotericin B, IMI progression 3 weeks after diagnosis, and lymphoma undergoing HCT. Late mortality was associated with relapsed/refractory malignancy and elevated serum galactomannan. Conclusions: In this single-center study of patients with IMI, infections were the most frequent causes of death, and time-dependent risk factors for death were identified. These results may help direct risk-assessment and monitoring of patients undergoing treatment of IMI.