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. 2024 Feb;112(2):266-275.
doi: 10.1111/ejh.14112. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Adaptive functioning and academic achievement in pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Associations with executive functioning, socioeconomic status, and academic support

Victoria C Seghatol-Eslami  1   2 , Edwin W Cook 3rd  1 , Noha Sharafeldin  2   3 , Julie Wolfson  2   4 , Donna L Murdaugh  2   4
Affiliations

Adaptive functioning and academic achievement in pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Associations with executive functioning, socioeconomic status, and academic support

Victoria C Seghatol-Eslami et al. Eur J Haematol. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines associations of functional outcomes (adaptive functioning and academic achievement) with executive functioning (EF), socioeconomic status (SES), and academic support in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors.

Methods: Fifty survivors of B-lineage ALL treated with chemotherapy-only (42% female, 76% NHW, ages 6-19) were evaluated on performance-based EF and academic achievement, and parent-rated EF and adaptive functioning. Area deprivation and child opportunity (i.e., SES) were extracted using census blocks and tracts. Academic support data were extracted from chart review.

Results: Compared to population norms, pediatric ALL survivors demonstrated significantly lower overall adaptive skills and performance in word reading and math calculation (all p ≤ .011). Frequencies of impairment were significantly elevated on all adaptive scales and in math calculation compared to the population (all p ≤ .002). Parent-rated EF significantly predicted overall adaptive skills (p < .001), while performance-based EF significantly predicted word reading and math calculation (all p < .05). Adaptive functioning was not associated with neighborhood-specific variables or academic support. However, academic support predicted word reading (p < .001), while area deprivation and academic support predicted performance-based EF (all p ≤ .02).

Conclusions: Screening of functional outcomes, targeted intervention, and neuropsychological monitoring are necessary to support pediatric ALL survivors' neurocognitive and psychosocial development.

Keywords: academic achievement; academic support; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; adaptive functioning; executive functioning; socioeconomic status.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors do not declare any conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Consort diagram. Of 301 survivors of childhood cancer, 50 survivors of B-lineage ALL were eligible for the current study. Fifty-nine patients were excluded. Abbreviations: HR, high risk; VHR, very high risk; BMT, bone marrow transplant; FSIQ, Full-Scale IQ.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Frequencies of A) Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and B) Child Opportunity Index (COI). (N=50). ADI ranges from 1–10 and COI ranges from 1–5 (very high, high, moderate, low, and very low). Lower scores indicate lower disadvantage and greater opportunity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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