COVID-19 Outcomes in Cancer Patients: National Cancer Institute Study Reveals Key Risk Factors and Insights

Strategic Insights -

A newly published study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has shed light on the critical factors influencing COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients. The research, which was conducted as part of the National Cancer Institute COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS), aimed to identify risk factors for hospitalization and death in patients with cancer who contracted COVID-19.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that cancer treatment, specifically chemotherapy, increased the risk of hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% CI, 1.52-2.54).
  • Receipt of chemotherapy was associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, while pre-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was linked to a lower risk of hospitalization (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.38-0.70).
  • Patients with lymphoma, acute leukemia, and lung cancer experienced the highest cumulative incidence of COVID-19-specific death within the first 90 days.
  • Baseline history of stroke, atrial fibrillation, or pulmonary embolism increased the risk of hospitalization (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.33-2.38).
  • The study also noted that 50.7% of cancer treatment disruptions over 2 years were attributed to COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • The study included 1572 eligible adult patients (median [range] age, 60 [18-93] years; 840 female [53.4%]).
  • 1066 (67.8%) of the patients had a solid tumor, with 683 (64.0%) having metastatic disease.
  • COVID-19-related mortality at 90 days was 3.0%.
  • The cumulative incidence of COVID-19-specific death within the first 90 days was highest in patients with lymphoma (12.1%), intermediate in patients with acute leukemia (6.3%) and lung cancer (5.4%), and lowest in patients with other solid tumors (1.1%) and other hematologic cancers (1.1%).
  • Over 2 years of follow-up, there were 1739 cancer treatment disruptions, with 881 (50.7%) attributed to COVID-19.

Sources:

  • Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
  • National Cancer Institute National Clinical Trials Network
  • Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network
  • Community Oncology Research Program
  • National Cancer Institute COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS)
  • JAMA Oncology
  • Amer Medical Assoc, 330 N Wabash Ave, Ste 39300, Chicago, IL 60611-5885, USA
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI), Div Canc Treatment & Diag, Bethesda, MD, United States
  • Vaccine Weekly
  • NewsRx LLC