JTO Clinical and Research Reports (Aug 2022)

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outcomes, Patient Vaccination Status, and Cancer-Related Delays During the Omicron Wave: A Brief Report From the TERAVOLT Analysis

  • Christine M. Bestvina, MD,
  • Jennifer G. Whisenant, PhD,
  • Valter Torri, MD,
  • Alessio Cortellini, MD,
  • Heather Wakelee, MD,
  • Solange Peters, MD, PhD,
  • Elisa Roca, MD, PhD,
  • Alessandro De Toma, MD,
  • Fred R. Hirsch, MD,
  • Hirva Mamdani, MD,
  • Balazs Halmos, MD,
  • Oscar Arrieta, MD,
  • Anne-Cecile Metivier, MD,
  • Mary J. Fidler, MD,
  • Jacobo Rogado, MD,
  • Carolyn J. Presley, MD, MHS,
  • Celine Mascaux, MD,
  • Carlo Genova, MD, PhD,
  • Juan Bautista Blaquier, MD,
  • Alfredo Addeo, MD,
  • Giovanna Finocchiaro, MD,
  • Hina Khan, MD,
  • Julien Mazieres, MD, PhD,
  • Floriana Morgillo, MD, PhD,
  • Jair Bar, MD,
  • Avinash Aujayeb, MBBS,
  • Giannis Mountzios, MD, PhD,
  • Vieri Scotti, MD,
  • Federica Grosso, MD,
  • Erica Geraedts, MD,
  • Ardak N. Zhumagaliyeva, MD, PhD,
  • Leora Horn, MD,
  • Marina Chiara Garassino, MD,
  • Javier Baena, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 8
p. 100335

Abstract

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Introduction: The Thoracic Centers International coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Collaboration (TERAVOLT) registry found approximately 30% mortality in patients with thoracic malignancies during the initial COVID-19 surges. Data from South Africa suggested a decrease in severity and mortality with the Omicron wave. Our objective was to assess mortality of patients with thoracic malignancies with the Omicron-predominant wave and evaluate efficacy of vaccination. Methods: A prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted. A total of 28 institutions contributed data from January 14, 2022, to February 4, 2022. Inclusion criteria were any thoracic cancer and a COVID-19 diagnosis on or after November 1, 2021. End points included mortality, hospitalization, symptomatic COVID-19 infection, asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, and delay in cancer therapy. Analysis was done through contingency tables and a multivariable logistic model. Results: We enrolled a total of 346 patients. Median age was 65 years, 52.3% were female, 74.2% were current or former smokers, 86% had NSCLC, 72% had stage IV at time of COVID-19 diagnosis, and 66% were receiving cancer therapy. Variant was unknown for 70%; for those known, Omicron represented 82%. Overall mortality was 3.2%. Using multivariate analysis, COVID-19 vaccination with booster compared with no vaccination had a protective effect on hospitalization or death (OR = 0.30, confidence interval: 0.15–0.57, p = 0.0003), whereas vaccination without booster did not (OR = 0.64, confidence interval: 0.33–1.24, p = 0.1864). Cancer care was delayed in 56.4% of the patients. Conclusions: TERAVOLT found reduced patient mortality with the most recent COVID-19 surge. COVID-19 vaccination with booster improved outcomes of hospitalization or death. Delays in cancer therapy remain an issue, which has the potential to worsen cancer-related mortality.

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