Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in hematologic patients affected by COVID‐19
Authors: Cattaneo Chiara , Daffini Rosa , Pagani Chiara , Salvetti Massimo , Mancini Valentina , Borlenghi Erika , D’Adda Mariella , Oberti Margherita , Paini Anna , De Ciuceis Carolina , Barbullushi Kordelia , Cancelli Valeria , Belotti Angelo , Re Alessandro , Motta Marina , Peli Annalisa , Bianchetti Nicola , Anastasia Antonella , Dalceggio Daniela , Roccaro Aldo M. , Tucci Alessandra , Cairoli Roberto , Muiesan Maria Lorenza , Rossi Giuseppe 
Published: September 2020

Background

Patients with cancer are considered highly vulnerable to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. However, there are still few data on COVID‐19 occurring in hematologic patients.

Methods

One hundred two patients with COVID‐19 symptoms and a nasopharyngeal swab positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 seen at 2 hematologic departments located in Lombardy, Italy, during March 2020 were studied. Risk factors for acquiring COVID‐19 were analyzed by comparisons of patients with COVID‐19 and the standard hematologic population managed at the same institutions in 2019. Thirty‐day survival was compared with the survival of matched uninfected control patients with similar hematologic disorders and nonhematologic patients affected by COVID‐19.

Results

Male sex was significantly more prevalent in patients with COVID‐19. The infection occurred across all different types of hematologic disease; however, the risk of acquiring a COVID‐19 infection was lower for patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, including chronic myeloid leukemia, and higher for patients with immune‐mediated anemia on immunosuppressive‐related treatments. The 30‐day mortality rate was 39.2%, which was higher than the rates for nonhematologic patients with COVID‐19 (23.5%; P = .02) and uninfected hematologic controls (3%; P < .001). The severity of the respiratory syndrome at presentation and active hematologic treatment were independently associated with a worse prognosis. Neither diagnosis nor disease status affected the prognosis. The worst prognosis was demonstrated among patients on active hematologic treatment and those with more severe respiratory syndrome at COVID‐19 presentation.

Conclusions

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, patients should be advised to seek medical attention at the earliest signs of dyspnea and/or respiratory infection. Physicians should perform a risk‐benefit analysis to determine the impact of temporarily deferring nonlifesaving treatments versus the risk of adverse outcomes associated with COVID‐19.

Lay Summary

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection occurs across all different types of hematologic disease; however, the risk of acquiring it is lower for patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, including chronic myeloid leukemia, and higher for patients with immune‐mediated anemia on immunosuppressive treatment.

The 30‐day mortality rate is 39.2%, which is far higher than the rates for both uninfected hematologic controls (3%; P < .001) and nonhematologic patients with COVID‐19 (23.5%; P = .02) despite matching for age, sex, comorbidities, and severity of disease.

Variables independently associated with a worse prognosis are the severity of the respiratory syndrome at presentation and any type of active hematologic treatment. Neither diagnosis nor disease status influence the prognosis.