Influence of marital status on clinical outcomes in peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a population-based analysis

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis that requires intensive systemic therapy, highlighting the potential impact of psychosocial factors on disease management and clinical outcomes. In this population-based study using SEER data from 2013 to 2022, we identified 5,919 patients newly diagnosed with PTCL. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to control for baseline differences, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models. Unmarried patients were more likely to be female, younger, and of non-White race. Survival analysis demonstrated that unmarried patients had significantly lower 5-year overall survival (OS: 40.7% vs. 45.7%; P < 0.001) and cause-specific survival (CSS: 49.9% vs. 53.8%; P = 0.0018). This survival disparity persisted after PSM (n = 4,481), with significantly lower 5-year OS (40.0% vs. 47.9%, P < 0.001) and CSS (49.1% vs. 55.3%, P < 0.001) in unmarried patients. On multivariable Cox regression, unmarried status was still associated with worse OS (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19–1.38; P < 0.001) and CSS (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.15–1.36; P < 0.001). In summary, unmarried status is associated with poorer survival in PTCL, underscoring the need to incorporate psychosocial support into personalized care strategies for socially vulnerable populations.