COVID-19 vaccination behavior and outcomes in patients with genitourinary cancer in comparison with other cancer types

ABSTRACT

Background: Cancer(ca) and old age are risk factors for developing severe COVID-19 (C19+) disease, related morbidity and mortality. These patients (pts) were excluded from clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of 3 FDA approved C19 vaccines (vax). Genitourinary (GU) ca-prostate, bladder and kidney ca contribute to the majority of non-skin ca and median age of these pts range from 65-75 yrs. We aimed to study these highly vulnerable pts behavior and outcomes regarding C19 vax in comparison to non-GU ca pts (18-89 years). Method(s) A prospective and observational single center study. Adult ca pts seen in clinics from Nov 2021-Sept 2022 were randomly interviewed using telephone surveys after a verbal consent. Type of ca and therapy data were collected from pts' medical records. The survey included C19 disease status, vax status positive (+) or negative (-), reason for vax status, side effects (s.e), impact on ca Rx or ca progression. Data was entered on REDCap. The primary end point was rate of vaccination in adult ca pts. Secondary end points were to quantify C19 vax acceptance vs. hesitance, identify s.e of C19 vax and effect of C19 vax on outcomes in GU and non-GU Ca pts. Result(s) N=172;GU ca 21 (12.2%) and non-GUca 151 (87.8%). Among GU ca pts- 9 had prostate ca, 7 had bladder ca and 5 had renal ca. C19+ in 4 (19%) GU and 45 (30.2%) non-GU pts. GU pts 90.5% received C19 vax (Pfizer 47.6%;Moderna 42.9%, J & J 0%);9.5% were not vaxed. Non-GU pts 85.2% received C19 vax (Pfizer 39.1%;Moderna 43%, J & J 2.6%);14.8% were not vaxed. The top 3 risk factors for serious C19+ were age >65yr (76.2%), heart disease (61.9%) and BMI.30 (42.9%) in GU ca pts and age >65yr (46.4%), BMI.30 (35.1%) and smoking (19.9%) in non-GU ca pts. The top 3 reasons for C19 vax (+) in GU ca pts protection against C19+ for self (81%), for others (47.6%) and provider recommendation (38.1%). The main reasons for vax hesitancy in C19 vax (-) GU ca pts concern for allergy to the vax (4.8%) and prior C19 infection (4.8%). The common s.e of C19 vax reported in GU ca pts were injection site inflammation (19%), headache (4.8%), muscle/body aches (4.8%) but no lymphadenopathy. None of GU ca pts reported delay in Rx or progression of the disease due to C-19 vax. Conclusion(s) C19 vax were overall well tolerated and did not impact ca outcomes in pts with GU malignancies. Oncologists should discuss the importance of C19 vax in the context of ca.