The evolving landscape of COVID‐19 and post‐COVID condition in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A study by ERIC, the European research initiative on CLL
Authors: Visentin Andrea , Chatzikonstantinou Thomas , Scarfò Lydia , Kapetanakis Anargyros , Demosthenous Christos , Karakatsoulis Georgios , Minga Eva , Chamou Dimitra , Allsup David , Cabrero Alejandro Alonso , Andres Martin , Antic Darko , Baile Mónica , Baliakas Panagiotis , Besikli‐Dimou Sotiria , Bron Dominique , Chatzileontiadou Sofia , Cordoba Raul , Correa Juan‐Gonzalo , Cuéllar‐García Carolina , De Paoli Lorenzo , De Paolis Maria Rosaria , Delgado Julio , Dimou Maria , Donaldson David , Catherwood Mark , Doubek Michael , Efstathopoulou Maria , Eichhorst Barbara , Elashwah Salma , Enrico Alicia , Espinet Blanca , Farina Lucia , Ferrari Angela , Foglietta Myriam , Frederiksen Henrik , Fürstenau Moritz , García‐Marco José A. , García‐Serra Rocío , Collado Rosa , Gentile Massimo , Gimeno Eva , Glenthøj Andreas , da Silva Maria Gomes , Hakobyan Yervand K. , Herishanu Yair , Hernández‐Rivas José Ángel , Herold Tobias , Innocenti Idanna , Itchaki Gilad , Jaksic Ozren , Janssens Ann , Kalashnikova Оlga B. , Kalicińska Elżbieta , Kater Arnon P. , Kersting Sabina , Labrador Jorge , Lad Deepesh , Laurenti Luca , Levin Mark‐David , Lista Enrico , Lopez‐Garcia Alberto , Malerba Lara , Marasca Roberto , Marchetti Monia , Marquet Juan , Mattsson Mattias , Mauro Francesca R. , Morawska Marta , Motta Marina , Munir Talha , Murru Roberta , Niemann Carsten U. , Rodrigues Raquel Nunes , Olivieri Jacopo , Orsucci Lorella , Papaioannou Maria , Pavlovsky Miguel Arturo , Piskunova Inga , Popov Viola Maria , Quaglia Francesca Maria , Quaresmini Giulia , Qvist Kristian , Rigolin Gian Matteo , Ruchlemer Rosa , Šimkovič Martin , Špaček Martin , Sportoletti Paolo , Stanca Oana , Tadmor Tamar , Capasso Antonella , Del Poeta Giovanni , Gutwein Odit , Karlsson Linda Katharina , Milosevic Ivana , Mirás Fatima , Reda Gianluigi , Saghumyan Gevorg , Shrestha Amit , Te Raa Doreen , Tonino Sanne H. , Van Der Spek Ellen , van Gelder Michel , van Kampen Roel , Wasik‐Szczepanek Ewa , Wróbel Tomasz , Segundo Lucrecia Yáñez San , Yassin Mohamed , Pocali Barbara , Vandenberghe Elisabeth , Iyengar Sunil , Varettoni Marzia , Vitale Candida , Coscia Marta , Rambaldi Alessandro , Montserrat Emili , Cuneo Antonio , Stavroyianni Niki , Trentin Livio , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Ghia Paolo 
Published: September 2023

In this retrospective international multicenter study, we describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related disorders (small lymphocytic lymphoma and high‐count monoclonal B lymphocytosis) infected by SARS‐CoV‐2, including the development of post‐COVID condition. Data from 1540 patients with CLL infected by SARS‐CoV‐2 from January 2020 to May 2022 were included in the analysis and assigned to four phases based on cases disposition and SARS‐CoV‐2 variants emergence. Post‐COVID condition was defined according to the WHO criteria. Patients infected during the most recent phases of the pandemic, though carrying a higher comorbidity burden, were less often hospitalized, rarely needed intensive care unit admission, or died compared to patients infected during the initial phases. The 4‐month overall survival (OS) improved through the phases, from 68% to 83%, p = .0015. Age, comorbidity, CLL‐directed treatment, but not vaccination status, emerged as risk factors for mortality. Among survivors, 6.65% patients had a reinfection, usually milder than the initial one, and 16.5% developed post‐COVID condition. The latter was characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, lasting cough, and impaired concentration. Infection severity was the only risk factor for developing post‐COVID. The median time to resolution of the post‐COVID condition was 4.7 months. OS in patients with CLL improved during the different phases of the pandemic, likely due to the improvement of prophylactic and therapeutic measures against SARS‐CoV‐2 as well as the emergence of milder variants. However, mortality remained relevant and a significant number of patients developed post‐COVID conditions, warranting further investigations.