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. 2021 Mar 4;2(2):272-275.
doi: 10.1002/jha2.179. eCollection 2021 May.

Driving distances and loss to follow-up after hematopoietic cell transplantation

Rahul Banerjee  1 , Alison W Loren  2
Affiliations

Driving distances and loss to follow-up after hematopoietic cell transplantation

Rahul Banerjee et al. EJHaem. .

Abstract

In a recent multicenter analysis, long geographic distances predicted loss to follow-up (LTF) among allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. We hypothesized that lower frequencies of patient interactions (including in-person appointments and telemedicine encounters) would predict LTF rather than long driving distances. However, in our retrospective single-center analysis of 263 HCT survivors, the only predictors of LTF were residence in the furthest driving-distance quartile and Medicaid insurance (but not annualized frequencies of patient interactions). Our findings suggest that telemedicine may not necessarily "rescue" long-distance HCT survivors from LTF. Other solutions, for example patient-specific partnerships with local providers, may be helpful.

Keywords: geographic factors; hematopoietic cell transplantation; lost to follow‐up; telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Scatter plot of interaction frequencies versus driving distances among HCT survivors alive 1+ year after HCT. Abbreviations: HCT, hematopoietic cell transplantation; LTF, loss to follow‐up
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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