From the Journals

COVID-19 death rate was twice as high in cancer patients in NYC study


 

FROM CANCER DISCOVERY

COVID-19 patients with cancer had double the fatality rate of COVID-19 patients without cancer treated in an urban New York hospital system, according to data from a retrospective study.

The case fatality rate was 28% (61/218) among cancer patients with COVID-19 and 14% (149/1,090) among matched noncancer patients with COVID-19 treated during the same time period in the same hospital system.

Vikas Mehta, MD, of Montefiore Medical Center, New York, and colleagues reported these results in Cancer Discovery.

“As New York has emerged as the current epicenter of the pandemic, we sought to investigate the risk posed by COVID-19 to our cancer population,” the authors wrote.

They identified 218 cancer patients treated for COVID-19 in the Montefiore Health System between March 18 and April 8, 2020. Three-quarters of patients had solid tumors, and 25% had hematologic malignancies. Most patients were adults (98.6%), their median age was 69 years (range, 10-92 years), and 58% were men.

In all, 28% of the cancer patients (61/218) died from COVID-19, including 25% (41/164) of those with solid tumors and 37% (20/54) of those with hematologic malignancies.

Deaths by cancer type

Among the 164 patients with solid tumors, case fatality rates were as follows:

  • Pancreatic – 67% (2/3)
  • Lung – 55% (6/11)
  • Colorectal – 38% (8/21)
  • Upper gastrointestinal – 38% (3/8)
  • Gynecologic – 38% (5/13)
  • Skin – 33% (1/3)
  • Hepatobiliary – 29% (2/7)
  • Bone/soft tissue – 20% (1/5)
  • Genitourinary – 15% (7/46)
  • Breast – 14% (4/28)
  • Neurologic – 13% (1/8)
  • Head and neck – 13% (1/8).

None of the three patients with neuroendocrine tumors died.

Among the 54 patients with hematologic malignancies, case fatality rates were as follows:

  • Chronic myeloid leukemia – 100% (1/1)
  • Hodgkin lymphoma – 60% (3/5)
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes – 60% (3/5)
  • Multiple myeloma – 38% (5/13)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – 33% (5/15)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia – 33% (1/3)
  • Myeloproliferative neoplasms – 29% (2/7).

None of the four patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia died, and there was one patient with acute myeloid leukemia who did not die.

Factors associated with increased mortality

The researchers compared the 218 cancer patients with COVID-19 with 1,090 age- and sex-matched noncancer patients with COVID-19 treated in the Montefiore Health System between March 18 and April 8, 2020.

Case fatality rates in cancer patients with COVID-19 were significantly increased in all age groups, but older age was associated with higher mortality.

“We observed case fatality rates were elevated in all age cohorts in cancer patients and achieved statistical significance in the age groups 45-64 and in patients older than 75 years of age,” the authors reported.

Other factors significantly associated with higher mortality in a multivariable analysis included the presence of multiple comorbidities; the need for ICU support; and increased levels of d-dimer, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase.

Additional factors, such as socioeconomic and health disparities, may also be significant predictors of mortality, according to the authors. They noted that this cohort largely consisted of patients from a socioeconomically underprivileged community where mortality because of COVID-19 is reportedly higher.

Proactive strategies moving forward

“We have been addressing the significant burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on our vulnerable cancer patients through a variety of ways,” said study author Balazs Halmos, MD, of Montefiore Medical Center.

The center set up a separate infusion unit exclusively for COVID-positive patients and established separate inpatient areas. Dr. Halmos and colleagues are also providing telemedicine, virtual supportive care services, telephonic counseling, and bilingual peer-support programs.

“Many questions remain as we continue to establish new practices for our cancer patients,” Dr. Halmos said. “We will find answers to these questions as we continue to focus on adaptation and not acceptance in response to the COVID crisis. Our patients deserve nothing less.”

The Albert Einstein Cancer Center supported this study. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

SOURCE: Mehta V et al. Cancer Discov. 2020 May 1. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-0516.

Recommended Reading

Can convalescent plasma treat COVID-19 patients?
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Want to keep cancer patients and providers safe during the pandemic? Here’s how
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Will coronavirus restrictions lead to more advanced cancers?
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
ASCO panel outlines cancer care challenges during COVID-19 pandemic
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
COVID-19 decimates outpatient visits
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Metastatic cancer linked to worse outcomes of COVID-19
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Antitumor treatment may increase risk of severe events in COVID-19 patients
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Adding a blood test to standard screening may improve early cancer detection
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Cancer screening, monitoring down during pandemic
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management
Three months of COVID-19 may mean 80,000 missed cancer diagnoses
Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management