COVID-19 disease in patients with LUNG cancer in Spain: GRAVID LunG canceR pAtients coVid19 Disease (GRAVID STUDY)

ABSTRACT

Background: Patients with cancer may be more susceptible to infection and at increased risk of more severe COVID-19 disease;however, prognostic factors are not yet clearly identified. The LunG canceR pAtients coVid19 Disease (GRAVID) study aimed to describe clinical characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of poor outcome in patients with lung cancer and COVID-19. Methods: In this large nationwide study, we reviewed medical records of patients with lung cancer and confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis from 65 Spanish hospitals. Clinical features, treatments and disease outcomes were collected. The primary endpoint was to determine all-cause mortality;secondary endpoints were hospitalization and admission to intensive care units (ICU). Risk factors for poor prognosis were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Overall, 447 patients were included for analysis. Mean age was 67 1 ± 9 8 years;332 (74 3%) were men, and 383 (85 7%) current/former smokers. NSCLC was the most frequent type of cancer (377, 84 5%), consisting mainly of adenocarcinoma (228, 51 0%), and stage III metastatic or unresectable disease (354, 79 2%). Two-hundred and sixty-six (59 5%) patients were receiving anticancer treatment, mostly first-line chemotherapy. In total, 350 (78 3%) patients were hospitalized for a mean of 13 4 ± 11 4 days, nine (2 0%) patients were admitted to the ICU, and 146 (32 7%) died. Advanced disease and the use of corticosteroids to treat COVID-19 during hospitalization were predictors of mortality. Hospitalized, non-endof-life stage patients with lymphocytopenia and high LDH had an increased risk of death. Severity of COVID-19 correlated to higher mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation rates. Conclusions: Due to their underlying comorbidities and immunocompromised status, patients with lung cancer and COVID-19 show high hospitalization and mortality rates. These outcomes, alongside the identification of prognostic factors, may inform physicians on the risks and benefits in this population, in order to provide individualized oncological care.