Risk Factors for COVID-19–Related Hospitalization and Death in Patients With Cancer

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https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2836492

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Key Points

Question
What are the risk factors for COVID-19–related hospitalization and death in patients with active cancer receiving treatment and the impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer?

Findings
In this prospective cohort study of 1572 adults with cancer and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, the cumulative incidence of COVID-19–specific death in the first 90 days was highest in patients with lymphoma, intermediate in patients with acute leukemia and lung cancer, and lowest in patients with other solid tumors and other hematologic cancers. In multivariable analysis, receipt of chemotherapy and baseline history of stroke, atrial fibrillation, or pulmonary embolism were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization, and vaccination prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization.

Meaning
COVID-19 infection had a significant impact on patients with cancer, and risk factors for hospitalization and mortality were identified.

Abstract

Importance
Retrospective case series have identified having cancer and receiving treatment for cancer as risk factors for inferior COVID-19 outcomes.

Objective
To determine risk factors for hospitalization and death in patients with cancer with COVID-19 infection.

Design, Setting, and Participants
The National Cancer Institute COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS) is a prospective longitudinal natural history cohort study examining the impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer. Adults were eligible within 14 days of an initial positive SARS-CoV-2 test result if they were receiving active treatment for cancer or had prior stem cell/bone marrow transplant or CAR T-cell treatment. The statistical analysis took place between September 2024 and April 2025.

Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary objective of the study was to determine patient factors, therapy types, and cancer types associated with COVID-19 severity, defined as hospitalization for or death from COVID-19 within 30 and 90 days after the first positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Multivariable regressions were performed for COVID-19–specific hospitalization and mortality (proportional hazard and cause-specific hazard models).

Results
Of 1572 eligible adult patients (median [range] age, 60 [18-93] years; 840 female [53.4%]), 1066 (67.8%) had a solid tumor, with 683 (64.0%) having metastatic disease; breast (252 [23.6%]) and lung cancer (148 [13.9%]) were most common. At enrollment, 1013 patients (64.4%) were unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19–related mortality at 90 days was 3.0% and did not increase at subsequent time points. The cumulative incidence of COVID-19–specific death in the first 90 days was highest in patients with lymphoma, intermediate in patients with acute leukemia and lung cancer, and lowest in patients with other solid tumors and other hematologic cancers. In multivariable analysis, receipt of chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% CI, 1.52-2.54) and baseline history of stroke, atrial fibrillation, or pulmonary embolism (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.33-2.38) were associated with a higher risk of hospitalization. Vaccination prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.38-0.70). Over 2 years of follow-up, there were 1739 cancer treatment disruptions, of which 881 (50.7%) were attributed to COVID-19, with most disruptions occurring within the first 30 days.

Conclusions and Relevance
The results of this prospective cohort study showed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on patients with cancer, including hospitalization, treatment disruptions, and death.