Contributions
Abstract: EP767
Type: E-Poster Presentation
Session title: Hodgkin lymphoma - Clinical
Background
Acute infections and fever under chemotherapy are an important cause for morbidity and mortality in hematologic malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Prophylactic anti-infective concomitant medication is prescribed frequently. Another protective measure could be self-protection via social distancing and wearing facemasks. However, evidence on the effect of self-protection on infections during chemotherapy is currently not available.
Aims
We asked if the frequency of acute infections during chemotherapy for advanced-stage HL decreased when Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) protection measures were in effect.
Methods
We analyzed the occurrence of infections during all documented eBEACOPP cycles that started between 01 March and 30 June of 2017-2020 among patients treated within the GHSG HD21 study in Germany. We compared cycles starting between March and June 2020 with cycles starting between March and June of 2017-2019 regarding infection rates and infection characteristics by logistic regression models and means of descriptive statistics.
Results
We analyzed 911 cycles of 313 adult patients treated with 4 to 6 cycles of eBEACOPP. We found a significant decrease in the frequency of infections during chemotherapy for HL during COVID-19 lockdown from 131 (19.6%) of 670 cycles in the years 2017-2019 to 30 (12.6%) of 239 cycles during COVID-19 lockdown (OR 0.574 (95% CI 0.354-0.930), P = 0.024). Correspondingly, 20 (24.1%) of 83 patients had an infection during the COVID-19 lockdown versus 99 (43.2%) of 229 patients in the years 2017-2019 (P = 0.0023). The strongest effect was observed for unspecified infections (unknown type of etiologic agent), occurring in 39 cycles (5.8%) during 2017-2019 in comparison to 5 cycles (2.1%) during COVID-19 lockdown. There was also a strong trend towards fewer minor infections: during the COVID-19 lockdown period there were 8 cycles (3.3%) with a minor infection compared to 66 cycles (9.9%) with an infection during the reference period.
Conclusion
The significant and relevant decrease observed in acute infections while receiving chemotherapy for HL during the COVID-19 lockdown demonstrates the potential of protective measures to shield patients from transmissible pathogens. We conclude that these measures may be recommended for cancer patients at risk for infections during chemotherapy.
Keyword(s): COVID-19, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Infection, Prophylaxis
Abstract: EP767
Type: E-Poster Presentation
Session title: Hodgkin lymphoma - Clinical
Background
Acute infections and fever under chemotherapy are an important cause for morbidity and mortality in hematologic malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Prophylactic anti-infective concomitant medication is prescribed frequently. Another protective measure could be self-protection via social distancing and wearing facemasks. However, evidence on the effect of self-protection on infections during chemotherapy is currently not available.
Aims
We asked if the frequency of acute infections during chemotherapy for advanced-stage HL decreased when Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) protection measures were in effect.
Methods
We analyzed the occurrence of infections during all documented eBEACOPP cycles that started between 01 March and 30 June of 2017-2020 among patients treated within the GHSG HD21 study in Germany. We compared cycles starting between March and June 2020 with cycles starting between March and June of 2017-2019 regarding infection rates and infection characteristics by logistic regression models and means of descriptive statistics.
Results
We analyzed 911 cycles of 313 adult patients treated with 4 to 6 cycles of eBEACOPP. We found a significant decrease in the frequency of infections during chemotherapy for HL during COVID-19 lockdown from 131 (19.6%) of 670 cycles in the years 2017-2019 to 30 (12.6%) of 239 cycles during COVID-19 lockdown (OR 0.574 (95% CI 0.354-0.930), P = 0.024). Correspondingly, 20 (24.1%) of 83 patients had an infection during the COVID-19 lockdown versus 99 (43.2%) of 229 patients in the years 2017-2019 (P = 0.0023). The strongest effect was observed for unspecified infections (unknown type of etiologic agent), occurring in 39 cycles (5.8%) during 2017-2019 in comparison to 5 cycles (2.1%) during COVID-19 lockdown. There was also a strong trend towards fewer minor infections: during the COVID-19 lockdown period there were 8 cycles (3.3%) with a minor infection compared to 66 cycles (9.9%) with an infection during the reference period.
Conclusion
The significant and relevant decrease observed in acute infections while receiving chemotherapy for HL during the COVID-19 lockdown demonstrates the potential of protective measures to shield patients from transmissible pathogens. We conclude that these measures may be recommended for cancer patients at risk for infections during chemotherapy.
Keyword(s): COVID-19, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Infection, Prophylaxis