Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Newly Diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Multicenter Descriptive Cohort Study Hodgkin Lymphoma features and outcomes in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is a prominent B-cell neoplasm, that impacts global and Saudi populations. Given limited large-scale studies focusing on HL in Saudi Arabia, this retrospective multicenter cohort study reviewed clinical outcomes and characteristics of Saudi HL patients. Methods All adult patients newly diagnosed with HL at three local tertiary care hospitals from January 2016 to December 2021 were included. Patients were excluded if they were diagnosed with nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL, known to have liver cirrhosis, or received unknown chemotherapy regimens. Patient demographics, comorbidities, HL type and stage, treatment, and clinical outcomes were collected. Results Out of 765 screened patients, 537 with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) were included. Most patients had nodular sclerosis histopathology (81.7%) and were in stage IV (44.6%). ABVD was the primary chemotherapy treatment for cHL patients (84.9%). The overall response rate was 90.1%, with 83.6% achieved complete remission. During 12-month follow-up, 94.9% of patients were alive. Post-initial chemotherapy, 9.5% of patients experienced bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity, and 23.5% were hospitalized within six months. Almost 18% of patients had relapsed/refractory HL. Conclusion This national comprehensive study provides insights into the clinical features and outcomes of Saudi HL patients. The predominance of the nodular sclerosis subtype and high response rates to ABVD chemotherapy align with global trends, emphasizing the effectiveness of standard treatments for HL in Saudi Arabia. Monitoring patients closely remains critical for managing side effects and enhancing patient outcomes.