Severity and 1-month outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with solid cancers: a Danish nationwide cohort study
Creators: name: Ehmsen, S.
name: Jakobsen, L. H.
name: Lendorf, M. E.
name: Eefsen, R. L.
name: Bentsen, L.
name: Knoop, A. S.
name: Aggerholm-Pedersen, N.
name: Skuladottir, H.
name: Herrstedt, J.
name: Jensen, L. H.
name: Rotbøl, C.
name: Damm, M. B.
name: Wedervang, K.
name: Glenthøj, A.
name: Ryg, J.
name: Frederiksen, H.
name: Kodahl, A. R.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: 19999 Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: Cancer
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: 60506 Virology
subject: Computational Biology

description: Cancer patients are vulnerable to infections, are older and often have comorbidities in comparison to the general population, which increases the risk for severe outcomes related to COVID-19 diagnosis. This study is a prospective, nationwide study in patients with solid cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection included between 10 March to 15 June 2020. Patient's baseline characteristics were collected. The study’s primary outcome was overall survival within 30 days of verified SARS-CoV-2 infection. Secondary outcomes were hospital admission, admission to an ICU, and need for supplemental oxygen. A total of 112 patients with a cancer diagnosis and verified SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified. After one month of follow up, hospitalization was required for 54% (<i>n</i> = 61) and 21% of the patients had died and 14 of the 23 deceased cancer patients were ≥70 years. Most patients were classified with mild COVID-19 symptoms (66%, <i>n</i> = 74); however, 48% (<i>n</i> = 23) of the ≥70-year-olds patients were classified with severe or critical COVID-19 symptoms. Among the total study population, 61% (<i>n</i> = 68) had comorbidities and comorbidity were more frequently observed among the deceased (91%, <i>n</i> = 21) and older cancer patients (≥70 years, 81%, <i>n</i> = 39). Acknowledging the low sample size in this study, our work shows that age and comorbidities, but not recent cytotoxic therapy, are associated with adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection for patients with solid cancer. Particularly, patients with progressive disease seem to be at greater risk of a fatal outcome from COVID-19.HighlightsAge, performance status, and comorbidities are strong predictors of adverse outcome in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Patients with progressive cancer disease seem to be at greater risk of a fatal outcome from COVID-19.Recent cytotoxic therapy, however, did not seem to be associated with increased risk for adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection for patients with solid cancer. Age, performance status, and comorbidities are strong predictors of adverse outcome in cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with progressive cancer disease seem to be at greater risk of a fatal outcome from COVID-19. Recent cytotoxic therapy, however, did not seem to be associated with increased risk for adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection for patients with solid cancer.