The use of a national transplant registry to benchmark transplant outcome for patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Current concepts on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome registries; Emphases on resource requirements for new registries

There is tremendous variability in size, scope, and resource requirements for registries depending on the number of patients and participating sites. The outcome registries are organized systems to collect uniform data using an observational study methodology. Patient registries are used to determine specified outcomes for a population for predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purposes. Historically, outcome registries established in the development of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have now evolved into myriads of locoregional and international transplant activity and outcome resources. Over time, these registries have contributed immensely in determining trends, patterns, and treatment outcomes in HSCT. There is wider variation in the goals, mission, objectives, and outcomes of the ongoing registries depending on the organizational structure. There is a growing trend toward overarching relationship of these registries to serve as complementary and interoperable resources for high potential collaborative research. In addition to capacity building, standardized, accredited, and optimally operational registries can provide unmatched and unparalleled research data that cannot be obtained otherwise. Moving forward, HSCT data collection, collation, and interpretation should be an integral part of the treatment rather than an option. Quality assurance and continuous quality improvement of the data are pivotal for credibility, measurable/quantifiable outcomes, clinically significant impact, and setting new benchmarks.

Does comparison of performance lead to better care? A pilot observational study in patients admitted for hip fracture in three French public hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether comparison of quality of hip fracture care among three teams located in different hospitals is associated with improvement in process and outcomes.

DESIGN

A baseline assessment was performed using quality indicators selected by professionals.

RESULTS

were discussed among the three teams followed by a post-comparison assessment of the same indicators.

SETTING

Three hospitals in North Western France.

PARTICIPANTS

Professionals caring for patients operated on for a low-impact hip fracture.

INTERVENTION

Review and discussion of comparative performance results by three teams followed by implementation of quality improvement as deemed necessary by each team.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fifteen quality indicators of health care during orthopedic and rehabilitation stay, mobility, dependence and place of residence before hip fracture and 3 months after discharge, 3 month post-surgery mortality and readmission rates.

RESULTS

Major differences were observed among hospitals throughout the care process during baseline period. Comparison of performance and discussion among the three teams were followed by corrective action in 11 areas. After comparison, a significant improvement was observed in 10 areas, seven of which corresponded to quality improvement areas chosen for improvement action by professionals. A significant decrease in readmission rate (6.7% vs. 15.7%, P < 0.001) was observed but there was no change in mortality, functional outcome or length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparison of performance among voluntary teams, on fields selected by health-care professionals, was associated with improvement in the care process and with improvement of some related outcomes.

Special issues related to hematopoietic SCT in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the first regional activity report

Although several centers are now performing allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) in the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region, the availability is still limited. Special issues including compatible donor availability and potential for alternative donor programs are discussed. In comparison to Europe and North America, differences in patterns of diseases and pre-HSCT general status, particularly for patients with BM failure, are described. Other differences including high sero-positivity for CMV, hepatitis B and C infection, and specific observations about GVHD and its relation to genetically homogeneous communities are also discussed. We report that a total of 17 HSCT programs (performing five or more HSCTs annually) exist in 9 countries of the EM region. Only six programs are currently reporting to European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation or Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research. A total of 7617 HSCTs have been performed by these programs including 5701 allogeneic HSCTs. The area has low-HSCT team density (1.56 teams per 10 million inhabitants vs 14.43 in Europe) and very low-HSCT team distribution (0.27 teams per 10 000 sq km area vs <1-6 teams in Europe). Gross national income per capita had no clear association with low-HSCT activity. Much improvement in infrastructure and formation of an EM regional HSCT registry are needed.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Australia and New Zealand, 1992-2004

The Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry (ABMTRR) commenced collecting data on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 1992, and by 2004 had accrued more than 12,000 transplant records from 44 centers. In 2004 the Australian annual per capita autograft activity rate was almost twice that of New Zealand (381 per 10 million compared to 195), whereas the 2 countries had similar allografting activity rates (Australia 145, New Zealand 133). The annual rates of allogeneic HSCT per 10 million population in Australia and New Zealand in 2004 were similar to those in European countries of comparable socioeconomic status. Among the most prominent trends between 1998 and 2004 were increases in the numbers of allogeneic HSCT using peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), the emergence of reduced intensity conditioning in allogeneic HSCT, increases in numbers of autologous HSCT for recipients aged 60 and over, increases in allogeneic HSCT with unrelated donors, and decreases in numbers of allogeneic HSCT for chronic myelogenous leukemia and autologous HSCT for breast cancer. The cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM) at 100 days posttransplant progressively fell over the years 1992 to 2003 and was 8.1% for allogeneic HSCT and 1.1% for autologous HSCT in 2003. The ABMTRR is a valuable data resource providing timely and accurate information on HSCT activity in Australia and New Zealand. Full enumeration of HSCT activity in the 2 countries by the ABMTRR enhances its value in clinical planning and management.

Long-Term Survival after Blood and Marrow Transplantation: Comparison with an Age- and Gender-Matched Normative Population

A plateau in long-term survival patterns of patients undergoing blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) from allogeneic donors is apparent, but whether their expected survival ever parallels that of the normative population is unclear. This study attempts to identify a cutoff time for classifying BMT patients as long-term survivors and compares their actual survival with the expected survival of an age- and gender-matched "normal" population. In this study, the records of 1386 patients who underwent allogeneic BMT at Princess Margaret Hospital between 1970 and 2002 were reviewed. Hazard rates (HRs), Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, and loss curves were used to propose a cutoff time classifying patients as long-term survivors. Factors predictive of overall survival and survival for long-term survivors were investigated. Actual survival for these patients was compared with the expected survival of the Canadian "normal" population. A cutoff time of 6 years post-BMT was proposed to define long-term survivors based on loss curves of hazard ratios and yearly survival statistics. The only statistically significant predictor of survival among long-term survivors was having a male donor (HR = 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.17-0.88). Although only 62% of patients survived the first year post-BMT, 98.5% of patients alive after 6 years survived at least another year. Almost 1/3 (31%) of the deaths in long-term survivors resulted from causes unrelated to transplantation or relapse. The observed number of deaths among BMT patients exceeded the expected number from the Canadian population; however, the difference in life expectancy decreased the longer that a patient survived. The 95% CIs for the observed/expected number of deaths cover 1, indicative of no difference, after the tenth year post-BMT. A cutoff of 6 years is proposed to define long-term survivorship after BMT. Life expectancy remained reduced compared with that of the "normal" population; however, this difference decreased the longer that a patient survived. Known risk factors of short-term survival disappeared, with only donor gender predictive of survival among long-term survivors.

Evidence-based guidelines for the management of neutropenia following outpatient hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) involves the transfer of stem cells to establish hematopoiesis in patients who have received myeloablative chemotherapy with or without whole body irradiation. Following high-dose therapy and HSCT, all patients experience a period of neutropenia. Outpatient care delivery models place expanded responsibilities on patients and their families for the management of this treatment side effect. Proactive management of neutropenia is critical to decrease the depth and duration of neutropenia following HSCT, limit exposure to opportunistic and nosocomial pathogens, and ensure prompt intervention should febrile neutropenia or infection develop. Patient and family education, psychosocial support, and coordination of care are key nursing responsibilities.