Heterogeneity among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: Identifying distinct profiles through cluster analysis

This study aimed to identify psychosocial adaptation profiles among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), a rare hematologic cancer, to ultimately better support those struggling most. In a longitudinal study of 338 Dutch MPN patients, hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses were conducted based on core psychosocial adaptation variables coping, resilience, and illness identity (i.e. acceptance, enrichment, rejection, and engulfment). Chi-square and ANOVA tests assessed differences in sociodemographic variables, disease characteristics, self-management, and quality of life between clusters, with Delta scores examining stability 6 months later. Three distinct profiles emerged that differed significantly in the aforementioned variables: 'low adaptation' (high disease burden, lower education), 'high adaptation' (longest disease duration, strong self-management), and 'active distance' (high rejection, low illness-identity, oldest patients). Identifying these profiles derived from cluster analysis can help tailor care, especially for low adapting patients with the highest burden, underscoring the importance of targeted psychosocial interventions to improve their well-being.