Coronavirus Disease Mortality and Outcome in Macedonian Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Single-Center Experience

ABSTRACT

Context Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be more predisposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to age, the nature of the disease, and treatment-related immunosuppression. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess risk factors of the outcome and course of COVID-19 for CLL patients in Macedonia. Design: Retrospective study of patients with CLL and COVID-19 infection in the period of time from the beginning of the pandemic to March 2022. Setting: Individual patient data from 55 CLL patients with COVID-19 infection were analyzed. The risk factors of COVID-19 disease severity and outcomes were investigated. Interventions: The outcome was the analysis of patients with COVID-19 infection in line with host risk factors and biological heterogeneity of the disease with previous therapy for CLL. Results: Our evaluation has shown that 80% of patients were male and 20% were female. The average age was 65 years. The average CIRS score was 2 and BMI was 23.6. Most of the patients (67.2%) have unmutated Ig genes. Ninety-one percent (91%) from that subgroup of patients have a severe form of COVID-19, 82% of patients were treated with chemotherapy, and 48% had a fatal outcome. Conclusions: CLL-directed treatment and unmutated Ig genes were significant risk factors for survival. Untreated patients and patients with mutated IGHV had a better chance of survival than those on treatment or who were recently treated.