Results
The median D-index of the children was significantly higher than that of the AYAs (8,187, range, 0−20,095 vs. 6,446, range, 0−10,532, respectively, P = 0.017) (Figure 1). Similarly, the median duration of neutropenia was also significantly longer in children than in AYAs (24.0 days, range, 0−59 days vs. 11.5 days, range, 0−36 days, respectively, P = 0.007) (Figure 2). In terms of infectious complications during induction chemotherapy for ALL, FN occurred in 53.7% of the analyzed patients, with 55.6% in children and 42.9% in AYAs; however, the incidence of FN was not statistically different between the two groups (P = 0.401). Moreover, bacteremia and IFI were observed in 9.5% and 2.1% of the analyzed patients, respectively. These incidences were also not significantly different between children and AYAs (bacteremia: 8.6% vs. 14.3%, respectively, P = 0.617, IFI: 1.2% vs. 7.1%, respectively, P = 0.274).