Nomogram model and risk score predicting overall survival and guiding clinical decision in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma: an observational study using SEER population-based data

INTRODUCTION: This study developed a prognostic nomogram of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) for purpose of discussing independent risk factors for HL patients with Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: We collected data of HL patients from 2010 to 2015 from the SEER database and divided it into two cohorts: the training and the verification cohort. Then the univariate and the multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted in the training, the verification as well as the total cohort, after which the intersection of variables with statistical significance was taken as independent risk factors to establish the nomogram. The predictive ability of the nomogram was validated by the Concordance Index. Additionally, the calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic curve were implemented to evaluate the accuracy and discrimination. Finally, we obtained 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates of HL patients. RESULTS: 10 912 patients were eligible for the study. We discovered that Derived American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage Group, lymphoma subtype, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were four independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of HL patients. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates for high-risk patients were 85.4%, 79.9% and 76.0%, respectively. It was confirmed that patients with stage I or II had a better prognosis. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy had a positive impact on HL outcomes. However, patients with lymphocyte-depleted HL were of poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram we constructed could better predict the prognosis of patients with HL. Patients with HL had good long-term outcomes but novel therapies are still in need for fewer complications.