Investigating the Causes of Fever in Neutropenic Cancer Patients Admitted to the Teaching Hospitals of Abadan University of Medical Sciences

Background and purpose: Fever and neutropenia are common complications and significant causes of hospitalization in cancer patients. These conditions can increase the mortality rates among patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the etiologies of fever in neutropenic cancer patients admitted to the teaching hospitals affiliated with Abadan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical, retrospective investigation. A total of 206 cancer patients presenting with fever and neutropenia, who were referred to the teaching hospitals affiliated with Abadan University of Medical Sciences in 2022, were included in the study. Patient information was collected through medical records and data retrieved from the Hospital Information System (HIS) using a structured checklist, and subsequently analyzed statistically. Results: The mean body temperature in patients who had received chemotherapy was significantly higher than that in patients who had not undergone chemotherapy (P<0.001). The mean temperature of patients with a fever duration of more than five days was also significantly higher than that of patients with a fever duration of less than five days (P= 0.024). A significant and inverse relationship was observed between body temperature and white blood cell (WBC) count on both the first and last day (P= 0.001 and P= 0.01, respectively). In addition, there was a significant and inverse relationship between body temperature and neutrophil count on both the first and last day (both P = 0.04). A significant relationship was also found between splenectomy and body temperature in patients with fever and neutropenia (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, fever duration, chemotherapy, and splenectomy were significantly associated with elevated body temperature. In addition, the findings indicated that neutrophil and white blood cell counts on both the first and last day were significantly associated with body temperature, such that this relationship was inverse, a decrease in neutrophils and white blood cells was associated with an increase in temperature.