COVID-19 severity and mortality in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a joint study by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, and CLL Campus
- PMID: 32647324
- PMCID: PMC7347048
- DOI: 10.1038/s41375-020-0959-x
COVID-19 severity and mortality in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a joint study by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, and CLL Campus
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the elderly, characterized by immunodeficiency. Hence, patients with CLL might be considered more susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19. We undertook this retrospective international multicenter study to characterize the course of COVID-19 in patients with CLL and identify potential predictors of outcome. Of 190 patients with CLL and confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed between 28/03/2020 and 22/05/2020, 151 (79%) presented with severe COVID-19 (need of oxygen and/or intensive care admission). Severe COVID-19 was associated with more advanced age (≥65 years) (odds ratio 3.72 [95% CI 1.79-7.71]). Only 60 patients (39.7%) with severe COVID-19 were receiving or had recent (≤12 months) treatment for CLL at the time of COVID-19 versus 30/39 (76.9%) patients with mild disease. Hospitalization rate for severe COVID-19 was lower (p < 0.05) for patients on ibrutinib versus those on other regimens or off treatment. Of 151 patients with severe disease, 55 (36.4%) succumbed versus only 1/38 (2.6%) with mild disease; age and comorbidities did not impact on mortality. In CLL, (1) COVID-19 severity increases with age; (2) antileukemic treatment (particularly BTK inhibitors) appears to exert a protective effect; (3) age and comorbidities did not impact on mortality, alluding to a relevant role of CLL and immunodeficiency.
Conflict of interest statement
LS received honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Janssen. GMR received honoraria from Abbvie, Gliead, and Janssen and research funding from Gilead. MaMo received onoraria from Janssen and Roche. CV received consultancy fees from Janssen, outside the submitted work. JAG received honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Janssen, and Roche. Research funding from AbbVie, Gilead, and Janssen. JAH received honoraria for lectures and Advisory Boards from Janssen, Abbvie, Roche, Gilead, AstraZeneca. CUN received research support and/or honoraria from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, CSL Behring, Janssen, and Sunesis. GR received honoraria from AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen. EG received travel grants, honoraria as consultant and/or speaker bureau from Janssen, Abbvie, Roche, and Gilead. MoMo received consultant fees from Gilead. MV received honoraria for Advisory boards from Janssen and Roche. SI received Honoraria Janssen and Gilead. AJ received travel grants, speaker fees or consultancies: Amgen, Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Gilead, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Roche. AF received honoraria from AbbVie. MaSp received honoraria from AbbVie, Gilead, and Janssen. ML received honoraria for Advisory board and travel compensation from Janssen, Abbvie, and Roche. EVDS received compensation for teaching activities from Amgen. EV received travel grants from Abbvie, Gilead, Jannsenns, and Roche, research grants from Abbvie, Gilead, and Roche. LF received honoraria from AbbVie, Janssen (Advisory role or Lecturer). MF received honoraria from Abbvie, Janssen, Gilead. YH received honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Medison, Sanofi, and Roche. OJ received Honoraria from Abbvie, Janssen, and Roche. APK received research support: Abbvie, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, AstraZeneca; Adboard: Abbvie, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, AstraZeneca; speakersfee: Janssen, AstraZeneca, Abbvie. SK received Travel grant from Celgene, research funding from Janssen, Abbvie. MA received travel support and advisory boards from AbbVie, Janssen-Cilag, Celgene, Novartis. DR received honoraria from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Janssen, Loxo, and Verastem, and research grants from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Cellestia, Gilead, Janssen. NS received consulting fees from AbbVie, Roche, Janssen. CT received honorarium and research funding from Janssen, Beigene, and Abbvie. MC received research funding from Janssen and Karyopharm Therapeutics, and personal fees from Janssen, Gilead, Abbvie, and Shire, outside the submitted work. KS received honoraria from Abbvie, Acerta/AstraZeneca, Gilead, Janssen, and research funding from Abbvie, Gilead, Janssen. AC received honoraria from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Janssen. RF received honoraria from Abbvie, Gliead, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Incyte, Novartis. PG received honoraria from AbbVie, Adaptive, Acerta/AstraZeneca, ArQule, BioGene, Dynamo, Gilead, Janssen, MEI, Sunesis, and Research funding from AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Sunesis. TC, GQ, FM, MB, JM, TM, FMQ, JD, RM, CC, GI, LDP, LL, EL, FRM, MaSi, LT, EW, RR, DB, MRDP, GDP, MG, TH, LM, LO VMP, PS, MY, BP, GB, AC, GdS, EN, MaDi, MiDo, AE, YH, OK, MOP, MP, AS, OA, NS, VS, MZ, GR, AR, EM have no conflict of interest to disclose.
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