Comparing Different Methods for Collection of Comorbidity Data Per the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI)

Studies have shown the importance of pre-transplant comorbidities in predicting mortality after allogeneic HCT.

However, comorbidity assessment might be a burden on the medical team at the clinic or the research staff. This research study aims to explore and validate new methods as alternatives to the standard chart-based method in order to facilitate comorbidity coding. The study aims to save time and effort of medical personnel and to ensure the inclusion of comorbidity information in all clinical trials and outcome research studies in order to improve the accuracy of treatment decision-making, patient assignment to appropriate HCT strategy and hence HCT outcomes.

This study will investigate two parallel approaches aimed at simplifying comorbidity assessment and thereby facilitating wide-spread use of the HCT-CI. Patient questionnaire-based and Claims-based methods will be tested as possible alternative to the Chart-based method. primary outcome is prediction of non-relapse mortality. It is expected that once this method of comorbidity coding is validated, it will benefit physicians in non-academic institutions and community clinics.