Abstract
Fear of disease progression (FoP) is a multidimensional concept that refers to the fear or worry about disease progress. Little is known about the distinct FoP profiles and their determinants in culturally specific contexts, especially among hematologic malignancies (HM) patients in China. This study aimed to identify heterogeneous profiles of FoP and their associated predictors among Chinese patients with HM. A convenience sample of patients suffering from HM were enrolled from March 2023 to February 2024. To gather multidimensional data from the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Family Hardiness Index (FHI), and the EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), we performed a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study on 455 survivors with HM. The statistical method included latent profile analysis (LPA) and multivariate logistic regression. Three latent profiles of FoP were found: the low-risk fear group (20.88%), the moderate-risk fear group (54.73%), and the high-risk fear group (24.49%). Patients with higher levels of illness perception, anxiety, and depression were more likely to report higher levels of FoP. The study revealed that female gender (OR 2.295-2.577), age > 65 years (OR 4.140-9.363), lower education (OR 0.270-0.365), and lymphoma diagnosis (OR 2.95) significantly predicted higher FoP risk (all P < 0.05), while higher income (OR 0.390-0.477, P < 0.05) and greater family resilience showed protective effects. The findings underscore the need for risk-stratified interventions targeting psychosocial vulnerabilities, particularly in elderly and female adults with HM. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the application of precision psycho-oncology approaches in HM survivorship management. It also contributes to the broader comprehension of FoP and highlights the importance of family-centered interventions .