Review of risk of COVID-19 in cancer patients and their cohabitants.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a history of active malignancy are at increased risk of infection and COVID-19-related complications. Sanitary protection measures are not specifically recommended within households. This study examined the risk of seroconversion in cancer patients according to their household exposure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This seroprevalence study was a prevalence study conducted in Torrejon de Ardoz (Spain). It analysed the seroprevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies in 104,299 volunteers (participation rate of 74.8% of population) from 29 May to 05 June 2020. Personal authorisation was requested to collect by questionnaire the test results from cancer patients, who attended the Outpatient Department of the University Hospital of Torrejón, and their cohabitants between 01-19 June 2020. RESULTS: A total of 229 cancer patients were included in the study. Sixty-four of the 229 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (27.9%) and 22 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies (9.6%). The overall seroprevalence (IgG or IgM positive) was 31.4% (general population seroprevalence was 10% in Spain). Of 72 seropositive patients, 54.2% had intrafamilial exposure vs 45.8% who did not. Among seronegative patients, 30.6% had seropositive cohabitants. The probability of seropositivity for a cancer patient was significantly related to intrafamilial exposure (OR 2.684, 95% CI 1.51-4.76, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients are a high-risk group for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recommendations against virus transmission need to be implemented even in a household scenario, as it was the main factor significantly related to seroconversion.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in cancer outpatients in Madrid (Spain): A single center, prospective, cohort study and a review of available data.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a global pandemic. Published data suggests that patients with a history of or active malignancy are at increased risk of infection and developing COVID-19 related complications. To date, the published data has analyzed the seroprevalence of COVID-19 infection in the general population, but not in cancer patients. Here we present the results of prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in cancer patients from the University Hospital of Torrejón (Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain). METHODS: SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies was assessed using a commercially available rapid test (Testsealabs® IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette) and collect the result from cancer outpatients who attended the medical oncology consult at University Hospital of Torrejón between June 1st and June 19th, 2020. FINDINGS: We analyzed the serological test results of 229 cancer patients. We estimated an overall seroprevalence (IgG or IgM positive) of 31.4%. The probability of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was similar between men and women, type of treatment and cancer stage. The probability of seropositivity was significantly higher in cancer patients with pneumonia compared with cancer patients without pneumonia (Odds Ratio (OR) 7.65 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1,85-31,58]). INTERPRETATION: Our results show a higher rate of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cancer patients than in the general population. The role of those antibodies in the immune response against the virus infection is unclear.