Impact of hematologic malignancy and type of cancer therapy on COVID-19 severity and mortality: lessons from a large population-based registry study
Authors: García-Suárez Julio , de la Cruz Javier , Cedillo Ángel , Llamas Pilar , Duarte Rafael , Jiménez-Yuste Víctor , Hernández-Rivas José Ángel , Gil-Manso Rodrigo , Kwon Mi , Sánchez-Godoy Pedro , Martínez-Barranco Pilar , Colás-Lahuerta Blanca , Herrera Pilar , Benito-Parra Laurentino , Alegre Adrián , Velasco Alberto , Matilla Arturo , Aláez-Usón María Concepción , Martos-Martínez Rafael , Martínez-Chamorro Carmen , Susana-Quiroz Keina , Del Campo Juan Francisco , de la Fuente Adolfo , Herráez Regina , Pascual Adriana , Gómez Elvira , Pérez-Oteyza Jaime , Ruiz Elena , Alonso Arancha , González-Medina José , Martín-Buitrago Lucía Núñez , Canales Miguel , González-Gascón Isabel , Vicente-Ayuso María Carmen , Valenciano Susana , Roa María García , Monteliu Pablo Estival , López-Jiménez Javier , Escobar Cristián Escolano , Ortiz-Martín Javier , Diez-Martin José Luis , Martinez-Lopez Joaquín ,   the Asociación Madrileña de Hematología y Hemoterapia (AMHH), Serí-Merino Cristina , Queiroz-Cervantes Keina , Fernandez Mónica Estévez , Peñalva-Moreno María-José , Naya-Errea Daniel , Bermejo-Martínez Laura , Llorente-González Laura 
Published: October 2020

Background

Patients with cancer have been shown to have a higher risk of clinical severity and mortality compared to non-cancer patients with COVID-19. Patients with hematologic malignancies typically are known to have higher levels of immunosuppression and may develop more severe respiratory viral infections than patients with solid tumors. Data on COVID-19 in patients with hematologic malignancies are limited. Here we characterize disease severity and mortality and evaluate potential prognostic factors for mortality.

Methods

In this population-based registry study, we collected de-identified data on clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes in adult patients with hematologic malignancies and confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection within the Madrid region of Spain. Our case series included all patients admitted to 22 regional health service hospitals and 5 private healthcare centers between February 28 and May 25, 2020. The primary study outcome was all-cause mortality. We assessed the association between mortality and potential prognostic factors using Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, hematologic malignancy and recent active cancer therapy.

Results

Of 833 patients reported, 697 were included in the analyses. Median age was 72 years (IQR 60–79), 413 (60%) patients were male and 479 (69%) and 218 (31%) had lymphoid and myeloid malignancies, respectively. Clinical severity of COVID-19 was severe/critical in 429 (62%) patients. At data cutoff, 230 (33%) patients had died. Age ≥ 60 years (hazard ratios 3.17–10.1 vs < 50 years), > 2 comorbidities (1.41 vs ≤ 2), acute myeloid leukemia (2.22 vs non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and active antineoplastic treatment with monoclonal antibodies (2·02) were associated with increased mortality; conventional chemotherapy showed borderline significance (1.50 vs no active therapy). Conversely, Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (0.33) and active treatment with hypomethylating agents (0.47) were associated with lower mortality. Overall, 574 (82%) patients received antiviral therapy. Mortality with severe/critical COVID-19 was higher with no therapy vs any antiviral combination therapy (2.20).

Conclusions

In this series of patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19, mortality was associated with higher age, more comorbidities, type of hematological malignancy and type of antineoplastic therapy. Further studies and long-term follow-up are required to validate these criteria for risk stratification.