Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology (Oct 2020)

COVID-19 in cancer patients on systemic anti-cancer therapies: outcomes from the CAPITOL (COVID-19 Cancer PatIenT Outcomes in North London) cohort study

  • Valerie E. Crolley,
  • Daire Hanna,
  • Nalinie Joharatnam-Hogan,
  • Neha Chopra,
  • Ekin Bamac,
  • Meera Desai,
  • Yuk-Chun Lam,
  • Sabiq Dipro,
  • Ruhi Kanani,
  • Jack Benson,
  • William Wilson,
  • Thomas A. Fox,
  • Kai-Keen Shiu,
  • Martin Forster,
  • John Bridgewater,
  • Daniel Hochhauser,
  • Khurum Khan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1758835920971147
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Background: Patients with cancer are hypothesised to be at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, leading to changes in treatment pathways in those treated with systemic anti-cancer treatments (SACT). This study investigated the outcomes of patients receiving SACT to assess whether they were at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or having more severe outcomes. Methods: Data was collected from all patients receiving SACT in two cancer centres as part of CAPITOL (COVID-19 Cancer PatIenT Outcomes in North London). The primary outcome was the effect of clinical characteristics on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 infection in patients on SACT. We used univariable and multivariable models to analyse outcomes, adjusting for age, gender and comorbidities. Results: A total of 2871 patients receiving SACT from 2 March to 31 May 2020 were analysed; 68 (2.4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Cancer patients receiving SACT were more likely to die if they contracted COVID-19 than those who did not [adjusted (adj.) odds ratio (OR) 9.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.73–16.9]. Receiving chemotherapy increased the risk of developing COVID-19 (adj. OR 2.99; 95% CI = 1.72–5.21), with high dose chemotherapy significantly increasing risk (adj. OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.35–6.48), as did the presence of comorbidities (adj. OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.19–4.38), and having a respiratory or intrathoracic neoplasm (adj. OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.04–4.36). Receiving targeted treatment had a protective effect (adj. OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.30–0.95). Treatment intent (curative versus palliative), hormonal- or immunotherapy and solid versus haematological cancers had no significant effect on risk. Conclusion: Patients on SACT are more likely to die if they contract COVID-19. Those on chemotherapy, particularly high dose chemotherapy, are more likely to contract COVID-19, while targeted treatment appears to be protective.