Trajectories of physical well-being among adults with acute myeloid leukemia

• Patients with acute myeloid leukemia have distinct trajectories of change in physical well-being after diagnosis which often include decline

• More research is needed to identify predictors of trajectory of change in physical well being among patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often undergo physical decline leading to negative outcomes. Identification of distinct trajectories may help guide clinical decision making and supportive care interventions. We built group-based trajectory models (GBTM) to find trajectories of change in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Physical Well-Being sub scale (FACT-PWB, up to 5 timepoints over 0 to 200 days of follow-up) using data from adults with newly diagnosed AML in four supportive care studies. We also estimated the association of baseline characteristics (age, marital status, education, AML risk, baseline FACT-PWB, depression, anxiety) with group membership. Among 343 patients with ≥ 2 FACT-PWB scores, mean age was 69.6 (SD 12.1) years; most had intermediate risk AML (178, 51.8%), received intensive treatment (244, 71.1%), and died during follow up (199, 58.0%). The GBTM with four distinct trajectories showed the best fit. The largest group (N=153, 45.0%) showed slight improvement, while the smallest experienced early decline with later improvement (N=8, 2.4%). Baseline FACT-PWB was the only characteristic statistically significantly associated with group membership. Adults with AML show distinct trajectories of physical well-being, and many experience some decline. Exploring trajectories of self-reported and objective physical function may inform decision making and interventions. Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02975869, NCT03310918, NCT03372291