Contributions
Abstract: EP819
Type: E-Poster Presentation
Session title: Infections in hematology (incl. supportive care/therapy)
Background
The coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic. Patients with hematological malignancies COVID-19 have worse clinical outcomes when compared to the general population; however, data regarding the outcomes of patients with hematological malignancies suffering from COVID-19 treated outside academic centers are scarce.
Aims
To analyze the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies treated in the community setting.
Methods
In this multicenter retrospective study patients suffering from hematological malignancies in whom COVID-19 was diagnosed from March 1, 2020, to February 16, 2021, were included from three community hospitals in Croatia (General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević”, General Hospital Šibenik and General Hospital Zadar). These hospitals cover area of about 405 000 inhabitants that accounts 10% of total Croatian population.
Results
During the study period there were a total of 21 745 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in that area and 66 (0.3%) had malignant hematological disease; most of them were male (65.15%) with a median age of 70 years (20-92). The majority of the patients (56%) became infected with COVID-19 during the second wave (November and December 2020). Lymphoproliferative disorders were recorded in 41 (62%) patients and 25 (38%) had myeloproliferative disorders. Among lymphoproliferative disorders, 16 patients had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 18 had non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and 7 multiple myeloma. In the myeloproliferative group, 14 patients had Ph-negative or Ph-positive chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, 2 acute myeloid leukemia and 9 had myelodysplastic syndrome. The majority of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were not in active treatment (54%) while 34% and 12% of patients acquired COVID-19 during the first- or later lines of treatment, respectively. A total of 45 (68%) patients needed hospitalization; the majority had lymphoproliferative disorders (64.4%). Among hospitalized patients, 42 (93.3%) patients had pneumonia and 38 (84.4%) needed oxygen therapy and 8 (17.7%) were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Four patients had thromboembolic complications and two had hemorrhages during hospitalization (a total of 13.3%). Out of 66 patients with COVID-19, 12 patients died (18.1%) and the total mortality rate of hospitalized patients was rather high (27%), with the majority of them suffering from lymphoproliferative disorders (75%).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic is strongly affecting patients with hematologic malignancies. These data gathered from a community setting demonstrated that patients with hematological malignancies suffering from COVID-19 have poor clinical outcomes with a high rate of pneumonia, frequent hospitalizations and a high mortality rate. More worrisome, patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were shown to have particularly poor outcomes; thus, future studies evaluating reasons for poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and lymphoproliferative disorders are of utmost importance. Education, social distancing and development of new drugs against COVID-19 are important strategies to protect this highly vulnerable population.
Keyword(s): COVID-19, Epidemiology, Hematological malignancy, Lymphoid malignancy
Abstract: EP819
Type: E-Poster Presentation
Session title: Infections in hematology (incl. supportive care/therapy)
Background
The coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic. Patients with hematological malignancies COVID-19 have worse clinical outcomes when compared to the general population; however, data regarding the outcomes of patients with hematological malignancies suffering from COVID-19 treated outside academic centers are scarce.
Aims
To analyze the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies treated in the community setting.
Methods
In this multicenter retrospective study patients suffering from hematological malignancies in whom COVID-19 was diagnosed from March 1, 2020, to February 16, 2021, were included from three community hospitals in Croatia (General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević”, General Hospital Šibenik and General Hospital Zadar). These hospitals cover area of about 405 000 inhabitants that accounts 10% of total Croatian population.
Results
During the study period there were a total of 21 745 people diagnosed with COVID-19 in that area and 66 (0.3%) had malignant hematological disease; most of them were male (65.15%) with a median age of 70 years (20-92). The majority of the patients (56%) became infected with COVID-19 during the second wave (November and December 2020). Lymphoproliferative disorders were recorded in 41 (62%) patients and 25 (38%) had myeloproliferative disorders. Among lymphoproliferative disorders, 16 patients had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 18 had non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas and 7 multiple myeloma. In the myeloproliferative group, 14 patients had Ph-negative or Ph-positive chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, 2 acute myeloid leukemia and 9 had myelodysplastic syndrome. The majority of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were not in active treatment (54%) while 34% and 12% of patients acquired COVID-19 during the first- or later lines of treatment, respectively. A total of 45 (68%) patients needed hospitalization; the majority had lymphoproliferative disorders (64.4%). Among hospitalized patients, 42 (93.3%) patients had pneumonia and 38 (84.4%) needed oxygen therapy and 8 (17.7%) were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Four patients had thromboembolic complications and two had hemorrhages during hospitalization (a total of 13.3%). Out of 66 patients with COVID-19, 12 patients died (18.1%) and the total mortality rate of hospitalized patients was rather high (27%), with the majority of them suffering from lymphoproliferative disorders (75%).
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic is strongly affecting patients with hematologic malignancies. These data gathered from a community setting demonstrated that patients with hematological malignancies suffering from COVID-19 have poor clinical outcomes with a high rate of pneumonia, frequent hospitalizations and a high mortality rate. More worrisome, patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were shown to have particularly poor outcomes; thus, future studies evaluating reasons for poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and lymphoproliferative disorders are of utmost importance. Education, social distancing and development of new drugs against COVID-19 are important strategies to protect this highly vulnerable population.
Keyword(s): COVID-19, Epidemiology, Hematological malignancy, Lymphoid malignancy