Prevalence of neutropenia in a level IV institution in the city of Barranquilla

Abstract

Introduction: Neutropenia, a decrease in the absolute count of circulating neutrophils, compromises the immune response and increases susceptibility to infections, from mild skin conditions to fatal systemic complications. This study analyzes the clinical, sociodemographic characteristics and prevalence of neutropenia in patients of the Bonnadona Prevenir Clinical Organization between 2021 and 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Bonnadona Prevent Clinical Organization laboratory. Patients with an absolute neutrophil count < 1,000 cells/?L in the period 2021- 2022 were included. Results: 213 subjects were included (average age 50 ± 19 years), 33.3% men and 66.7% women. 70.4% presented moderate and 29.6% severe neutropenia. Age, gender, origin, and affiliation regime did not show significant associations with the type of neutropenia (p > 0.05). The most frequent diagnosis was breast cancer (33.3%). The most common treatments were cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin, followed by carboplatin + paclitaxel. High blood pressure (HTN) and HTN + diabetes mellitus (DM) were the most frequent comorbidities. Conclusion: Neutropenia is a relevant complication in patients with cytotoxic and immunosuppressive therapies, especially in hematological diseases. We observed a high incidence of moderate and severe neutropenia, with a higher incidence in women, potentially due to the prevalence of breast cancer. These findings highlight the importance of active surveillance and the need for personalized management strategies to mitigate the risk of serious infections and improve patients' quality of life.