Prevalence, trends, and outcomes of hematological malignancies in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Backgrounds: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an acute, rapidly progressive systemic inflammatory disorder that often occurs secondary to hematological malignancies among other conditions in adults. Although the annual incidence of HLH is increasing, detailed epidemiological knowledge of HLH is still limited, especially in patients with hematological malignancies.

Objectives: To analyze the impact of hematological malignancies on the epidemiology and outcomes of HLH.

Study design: Data from the National Readmission Database (NRD) from 2011 to 2020 were analyzed to explore the epidemiological trends and in-hospital outcomes of HLH patients, particularly those with hematological malignancies.

Results: Our analysis included 7579 HLH hospitalizations, with hematological malignancies implicated in 24.01% of cases. Our findings reveal a steady increase in HLH diagnoses from 145 cases in 2011 to 1848 in 2020, with the proportion linked to hematological malignancies remaining consistent. Patients with hematological malignancies-associated HLH exhibited higher rates of in-hospital mortality (31.6%) than those without (14.4%), and a higher 30-day readmission rate, underscoring a critical need for early detection and treatment revision.

Conclusions: Despite the increasing awareness and diagnosis of HLH, the prognosis of patients with HLH associated with hematological malignancies remains poor, highlighting the urgent need for improved management strategies and therapeutic interventions.