JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Acute leukemias pose a significant challenge in Latin America, where social, biological, and infrastructural barriers lead to poorer outcomes compared to developed countries. These include a higher prevalence of unfavorable genetic alterations, limited access to specialized care, and variability in healthcare processes.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) on early mortality among patients with acute leukemia

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study evaluated 274 patients with acute leukemia. Of these, 62% were treated in a traditional physical records (TFR) system and 38% in an EMR system. Data on treatment intensity, time to antibiotic administration, and mortality were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results:

Early mortality was significantly lower in the EMR group (5.8%) compared to the TFR group (35.9%, p = 0.000). EMR systems enabled faster responses to critical events like febrile neutropenia, with a median time to antibiotics of 54 minutes versus 272 minutes (p = 0.000). High-intensity regimens were more frequently administered in the EMR group, improving survival outcomes (Log-Rank= 0.000).

Conclusions:

EMR systems reduce mortality and optimize critical care processes. Their implementation in public hospitals is essential to improve outcomes in Latin America, ensuring timely and equitable care. Clinical Trial: Non-applicable