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Cancer research

COVID-19 Mortality Risk Higher in Patients with Active Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research from the Laboratory for Molecular Biology, funded by Cancer Research UK and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), has found that patients with active cancer have a higher risk of mortality and hospitalization from COVID-19 compared to those without cancer. The study, which analyzed 30 studies involving over 299,000 patients with cancer and 18.8 million controls, found that patients with active cancer were 1.4 to 2.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19, with the risk varying by cancer type and viral variant.

Key Takeaways:

  • Patients with active cancer have a higher risk of mortality and hospitalization from COVID-19 compared to those without cancer, with a 1.4-2.1 fold increased risk.
  • The risk of death was comparable between active solid and haematological tumours.
  • SARS-CoV-2 severity and mortality risks were higher with thoracic, colorectal, or any metastatic cancers.
  • Differences were noted in mortality risks across viral variants, with Alpha and Omicron variants associated with higher mortality risks compared to Wu-1 and Delta variants.
  • The study was limited by varied definitions of disease severity, retrospective data collection, incomplete vaccination or lineage data, and significant between-study heterogeneity.
  • The strict three-year cutoff used to define active cancer may limit generalizability.
  • The study's findings have implications for public health, vaccination strategies, and clinical management of COVID-19 in patients with cancer.

Statistics:

  • 35,501 studies were initially identified, with 30 meeting eligibility criteria and included in the meta-analysis.
  • 281,270 patients with cancer and 18,876,411 controls were included in the analysis.
  • The study found higher mortality odds ratios (OR) in patients with cancer infected with SARS-CoV-2, with numbers ranging from 1.12 to 3.07.
  • SARS-CoV-2 severity and mortality risks were higher with thoracic (OR: 2.63), colorectal (OR: 1.65), and metastatic cancers (OR: 3.59).
  • Alpha and Omicron variants were associated with higher mortality risks, with ORs of 4.59 and 2.74, respectively.

Sources:

  • eClinicalMedicine: Determinants of Sars-cov-2 Outcomes In Patients With Cancer Vs Controls Without Cancer: a Multivariable Meta-analysis With Genomic Imputation (2025;83:103194).
  • Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council.
  • Cancer Research UK and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).
  • NewsRx LLC. Studies from Laboratory for Molecular Biology Have Provided New Data on COVID-19 (Determinants of Sars-cov-2 Outcomes In Patients With Cancer Vs Controls Without Cancer: a Multivariable Meta-analysis With Genomic Imputation). Information Technology Newsweekly. June 10, 2025; p 378.

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