Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcome in patients with solid tumors or hematological malignancies: a single-center study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised cancer patients are presumed to be at high risk of developing COVID-19 infection. Predisposing factors to contracting COVID-19 and to severe outcomes have been described in registries but were not compared between solid tumors and hematological malignancies. METHOD: This retrospective single oncologic center study included adults with solid tumors or hematological malignancies referred to testing by naso-pharyngeal swab for a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR from March 10 to May 18, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 212 patients were included in the study. Forty-five (21%) were tested positive with SARS-CoV-2. The univariate analysis with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR as a dependent variable reveals significant odds ratios (ORs) for age-with a mean of 62.5 years-(OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08), performance status ≥2 (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.22-4.70), inpatient status (OR 2.36, 95%CI 1.11-4.91), and hematological malignancies (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.23-4.96). In contrast, OR for solid tumors reveals a negative association (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20-0.81). When integrating severe outcome (ICU admission or COVID-19-related death) as a dependent variable, the univariate logistic regression model shows significant ORs for pre-existing lymphopenia (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.17-15.04), hematological malignancies (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.09-13.80), and a negative association for solid tumors (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.07-0.92). CONCLUSION: In patients referred for SARS-CoV-2 testing, hematological malignancies were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes. Other factors were age and inpatient status.