Corrado Girmenia1, Giuseppe Gentile2, Alessandra Micozzi2, Luigi Petrucci2, Francesco Malaspina2, Alessio Di Prima2, Erminia Baldacci2, Simona Bianchi2, Pellegrina Pugliese3, Ombretta Turriziani4, Guido Antonelli4, Vincenzo Tombolini5, Robin Foà2, Maurizio Martelli2. 1. Hematology, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy, girmenia@bce.uniroma1.it. 2. Hematology, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 3. Thalassemia Unit, Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine Unit, AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 4. Laboratory of Virology, Department of Molecular Medicine, AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 5. Radiotherapy, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Dermatology, AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patients with cancer may be more susceptible to and have higher morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19 than the general population, while epidemiologic data specifically addressed to hematologic patients are limited. To investigate whether patients with hematologic diseases undergoing therapy are at increased risk for acquiring SARS CoV-2 infection compared to the general population, a retrospective study was carried out at a referral hematologic center in Rome, Italy, during the period of the greatest epidemic spread (March 8 to May 14, 2020). METHODS: All adult and pediatric patients with a diagnosis of a neoplastic or a nonneoplastic hematologic disease who underwent treatment (chemotherapy or immunosuppressive or supportive therapy) during the study period or in the previous 6 months were considered. The prevalence of COVID-19 in the overall outpatient and inpatient population undergoing hematologic treatment compared to that of the general population was analyzed. The measures taken to manage patients during the epidemic period are described. RESULTS: Overall, 2,513 patients with hematological diseases were considered. Out of 243 (9.7%) patients who were screened for SARS CoV-2, three of 119 (2.5%) outpatients with fever or respiratory symptoms and none of 124 asymptomatic patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. Three further patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 and managed in other hospitals in Rome. As of May 14, 2020, the prevalence of COVID-19 in our hematologic population accounted for 0.24% (95% CI 0.23-0.25; 6 of 2,513 patients: 1 case in every 419 patients) as compared to 0.12% (7,280 of 5,879,082 residents; 1 case in every 807 residents) in the general population (p = 0.14). Three of 6 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 required critical care and 2 died while still positive for SARS CoV-2. Out of 225 healthcare providers on duty at our Institution during the study period, 2 (0.9%) symptomatic cases were diagnosed with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the prevalence of COVID-19 in hematologic patients, mainly affected by malignancies, was not significantly higher compared to that of the general population. Definition of adapted strategies for healthcare services, while continuing to administer the standard hematologic treatments, represents the crucial challenge for the management of hematologic diseases in the COVID-19 era.
INTRODUCTION:Patients with cancer may be more susceptible to and have higher morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19 than the general population, while epidemiologic data specifically addressed to hematologic patients are limited. To investigate whether patients with hematologic diseases undergoing therapy are at increased risk for acquiring SARS CoV-2 infection compared to the general population, a retrospective study was carried out at a referral hematologic center in Rome, Italy, during the period of the greatest epidemic spread (March 8 to May 14, 2020). METHODS: All adult and pediatric patients with a diagnosis of a neoplastic or a nonneoplastic hematologic disease who underwent treatment (chemotherapy or immunosuppressive or supportive therapy) during the study period or in the previous 6 months were considered. The prevalence of COVID-19 in the overall outpatient and inpatient population undergoing hematologic treatment compared to that of the general population was analyzed. The measures taken to manage patients during the epidemic period are described. RESULTS: Overall, 2,513 patients with hematological diseases were considered. Out of 243 (9.7%) patients who were screened for SARS CoV-2, three of 119 (2.5%) outpatients with fever or respiratory symptoms and none of 124 asymptomatic patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. Three further patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 and managed in other hospitals in Rome. As of May 14, 2020, the prevalence of COVID-19 in our hematologic population accounted for 0.24% (95% CI 0.23-0.25; 6 of 2,513 patients: 1 case in every 419 patients) as compared to 0.12% (7,280 of 5,879,082 residents; 1 case in every 807 residents) in the general population (p = 0.14). Three of 6 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 required critical care and 2 died while still positive for SARS CoV-2. Out of 225 healthcare providers on duty at our Institution during the study period, 2 (0.9%) symptomatic cases were diagnosed with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: In our experience, the prevalence of COVID-19 in hematologic patients, mainly affected by malignancies, was not significantly higher compared to that of the general population. Definition of adapted strategies for healthcare services, while continuing to administer the standard hematologic treatments, represents the crucial challenge for the management of hematologic diseases in the COVID-19 era.
Authors: Fabrizio Cavalca; Rossella Renso; Giovanni Paolo Maria Zambrotta; Carlo Gambacorti-Passerini; Elena Maria Elli Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-04-15 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: Mantė Eidininkienė; Jelena Cesarskaja; Simona Talačkaitė; Vilma Traškaitė-Juškevičienė; Andrius Macas Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-14 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Sabina Chiaretti; Massimiliano Bonifacio; Roberta Agrippino; Fabio Giglio; Mario Annunziata; Antonio Curti; Maria Ilaria Del Principe; Prassede Salutari; Mariarita Sciumè; Mario Delia; Marco Armenio; Valentina Mancini; Antonino Mulè; Francesco Grimaldi; Giovanna Rege-Cambrin; Lidia Santoro; Federico Lussana; Patrizia Chiusolo; Crescenza Pasciolla; Anna Maria Scattolin; Marco Cerrano; Maria Ciccone; Marzia Defina; Fabio Forghieri; Carla Mazzone; Matteo Piccini; Felicetto Ferrara; Giovanni Pizzolo; Robin Foà Journal: Haematologica Date: 2022-08-01 Impact factor: 11.047