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J Clin Virol
. 2021 May 9;140:104850.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104850. Online ahead of print.
Cancer, transplant, and immunocompromising conditions were not significantly associated with severe illness or death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Maya R Krasnow 1 , Henry K Litt 2 , Christopher J Lehmann 3 , Jonathan Lio 4 , Mengqi Zhu 5 , Renslow Sherer 6
Affiliations
- PMID: 34022753
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2021.104850
Abstract
Objective: Patients with cancer, transplant, and other immunocompromising conditions are at uncertain risk of severe COVID-19 illness. This study aimed to clarify whether patients with immunocompromising conditions were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 illness in a single urban academic medical center.
Methods: A retrospective chart review and electronic data extraction of the first 401 patients at the University of Chicago Hospitals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed. Patients met criteria for severe COVID-19 illness if they required ICU level care, high flow oxygen, positive pressure support, helmet non-invasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or ECMO, developed ARDS, or died.
Results: The mean age was 60 years, 52% were women, 90% were African American, and mortality at 30 days post discharge was 13%. Severe COVID-19 illness was found in 168 (40%) patients. Of the 56 patients with past or current cancer, 25 (45%) had severe illness (p=0.76). Of the 55 patients with other immunocompromised conditions, 24 (44%) had severe illness (p=0.89) After controlling for age, sex, and race, neither cancer (p=0.73) nor immunocompromised conditions (p=0.64) were associated with severe illness.
Conclusion: No association was found between severe COVID-19 illness and cancer, transplant, and other immunocompromising conditions in a cohort of mostly African American patients.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; Immunocompromised; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; Transplant.