ABSTRACT
ImportanceThe incidence and severity of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is higher in men. Sex hormones potentially offer one explanation for differences by sex. ObjectiveTo determine whether men exposed to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) have lower incidence and severity of COVID-19. DesignWe conducted an observational study of male Veterans treated in the Veterans Health Administration from February 15th to July 15th, 2020. We developed a propensity score model to predict the likelihood to undergo Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. We performed multivariable logistic regression modeling adjusted with inverse probability weighting to examine the relationship between ADT and COVID-19 incidence. We conducted logistic regression analysis among COVID-19 patients to test the association between ADT and COVID-19 severity. SettingThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ParticipantsThe study sample consisted of 6,250,417 male Veterans who were alive as of February 15, 2020. ExposureExposure to ADT was defined as having any prescription for a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue or an antiandrogen in the six months prior to the index date. Main Outcomes and MeasuresTo assess incidence, we used a binary variable indicating any positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction SARS-CoV-2 test result through July 15, 2020. To measure severity, we constructed a binary variable indicating whether a patient was admitted to the intensive care unit, placed on mechanical ventilation, or dead in the 60 days following a positive test up to July 15, 2020. ResultsWe identified 246,087 patients who had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 3,057 were exposed to ADT, and 36,096 patients with cancer and no ADT exposure. Of these, 295 ADT patients and 2,427 other cancer patients had COVID-19 illness. In the primary, propensity-weighted comparison of ADT patients to cancer patients not on ADT, ADT was associated with decreased likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (adjusted OR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81-0.95]; p=0.001). ADT was associated with fewer severe COVID-19 outcomes (OR 0.72 [95% CI 0.53-0.96]; p=0.03). Conclusions and RelevanceADT is associated with reduced incidence and severity of COVID-19 amongst male Veterans. Repurposing of drugs that modulate androgen production and/or action may represent viable potential treatments for COVID-19. KEY POINTSO_ST_ABSQuestionC_ST_ABSDoes androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) lower incidence and severity of COVID-19? FindingsIn this observational study of male Veterans treated in the Veterans Healthcare System, ADT was associated with decreased likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (adjusted OR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81-0.95]; p=0.001). ADT was also associated with fewer severe COVID-19 outcomes (OR 0.72 [95% CI 0.53-0.96]; p=0.03). MeaningThe use of androgen deprivation therapy may be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection and modulate severity of COVID-19 outcomes.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo estimate the proportion of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who undergo dialysis, tracheostomy, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). DesignA network cohort study. SettingSix databases from the United States containing routinely-collected patient data: HealthVerity, Premier, IQVIA Open Claims, Optum EHR, Optum SES, and VA-OMOP. PatientsPatients hospitalized with a clinical diagnosis or a positive test result for COVID-19. InterventionsDialysis, tracheostomy, and ECMO. Measurements and Main Results240,392 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were included (22,887 from HealthVerity, 139,971 from IQVIA Open Claims, 29,061 from Optum EHR, 4,336 from OPTUM SES, 36,019 from Premier, and 8,118 from VA-OMOP). Across the six databases, 9,703 (4.04% [95% CI: 3.96% to 4.11%]) patients received dialysis, 1,681 (0.70% [0.67% to 0.73%]) had a tracheostomy, and 398 (0.17% [95% CI: 0.15% to 0.18%]) patients underwent ECMO over the 30 days following hospitalization. Use of ECMO was generally concentrated among patients who were younger, male, and with fewer comorbidities except for obesity. Tracheostomy was used for a similar proportion of patients regardless of age, sex, or comorbidity. While dialysis was used for a similar proportion among younger and older patients, it was more frequent among male patients and among those with chronic kidney disease. ConclusionUse of dialysis among those hospitalized with COVID-19 is high at around 4%. Although less than one percent of patients undergo tracheostomy and ECMO, the absolute numbers of patients who have undergone these interventions is substantial and can be expected to continue grow given the continuing spread of the COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
ObjectivesTo characterize the demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, in-hospital treatments, and health outcomes among children/adolescents diagnosed or hospitalized with COVID-19. Secondly, to describe health outcomes amongst children/adolescents diagnosed with previous seasonal influenza. DesignInternational network cohort. SettingReal-world data from European primary care records (France/Germany/Spain), South Korean claims and US claims and hospital databases. ParticipantsDiagnosed and/or hospitalized children/adolescents with COVID-19 at age <18 between January and June 2020; diagnosed with influenza in 2017-2018. Main outcome measuresBaseline demographics and comorbidities, symptoms, 30-day in-hospital treatments and outcomes including hospitalization, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), and death. ResultsA total of 55,270 children/adolescents diagnosed and 3,693 hospitalized with COVID-19 and 1,952,693 diagnosed with influenza were studied. Comorbidities including neurodevelopmental disorders, heart disease, and cancer were all more common among those hospitalized vs diagnosed with COVID-19. The most common COVID-19 symptom was fever. Dyspnea, bronchiolitis, anosmia and gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in COVID-19 than influenza. In-hospital treatments for COVID-19 included repurposed medications (<10%), and adjunctive therapies: systemic corticosteroids (6.8% to 37.6%), famotidine (9.0% to 28.1%), and antithrombotics such as aspirin (2.0% to 21.4%), heparin (2.2% to 18.1%), and enoxaparin (2.8% to 14.8%). Hospitalization was observed in 0.3% to 1.3% of the COVID-19 diagnosed cohort, with undetectable (N<5 per database) 30-day fatality. Thirty-day outcomes including pneumonia, ARDS, and MIS-C were more frequent in COVID-19 than influenza. ConclusionsDespite negligible fatality, complications including pneumonia, ARDS and MIS-C were more frequent in children/adolescents with COVID-19 than with influenza. Dyspnea, anosmia and gastrointestinal symptoms could help differential diagnosis. A wide range of medications were used for the inpatient management of pediatric COVID-19. What is already known on this topic?O_LIMost of the early COVID-19 studies were targeted at adult patients, and data concerning children and adolescents are limited. C_LIO_LIClinical manifestations of COVID-19 are generally milder in the pediatric population compared with adults. C_LIO_LIHospitalization for COVID-19 affects mostly infants, toddlers, and children with pre-existing comorbidities. C_LI What this study adds This study comprehensively characterizes a large international cohort of pediatric COVID-19 patients, and almost 2 million with previous seasonal influenza across 5 countries. Although uncommon, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) were more frequent in children and adolescents diagnosed with COVID-19 than in those with seasonal influenza. Dyspnea, bronchiolitis, anosmia and gastrointestinal symptoms were more frequent in COVID-19, and could help to differentiate pediatric COVID-19 from influenza. A plethora of medications were used during the management of COVID-19 in children and adolescents, with great heterogeneity in the use of antiviral therapies as well as of adjunctive therapies.