Outcome of COVID-19 in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients: Results from the EPICOVIDEHA registry

• Authors: BUSCA Alessandro; SALMANTON-GARCIA Jon; MARCHESI Francesco; FARINA Francesca; SEVAL Guldane Cengiz; JAAP Van Doesum; DE JONGE Nick C; BAHR Nathan C; MAERTENS Johan; MELETIADIS Joseph S; FRACCHIOLLA Nicola S; WEINBERGEROVÁ Barbora; VERGA Luisa; RACIL Zdenek; JIMENEZ Moraima; GLENTHOJ Andreas; BLENNOW Ola; TANASE Alina Daniela; SCHOENLEIN Martin; PREZIOSO Lucia; KHANNA Nina F; DUARTE Rafael F; ZAK Pavel; NUCCI Marcio; MACHADO Marina; KULASEKARARAJ Austin; ESPIGADO Ildefonso; ELIZABETH De Kort; SUSANA Jose-Maria Ribera-Santa; MARCHETTI Monia; MAGLIANO Gabriele; FALCES-ROMERO Iker; ILHAN Osman; AMMATUNA Emanuele; ZOMPI Sofia; TSIRIGOTIS Panagiotis; ANTONIADOU Anastasia; ZAMBROTTA Giovanni Paolo Maria; NORDLANDER Anna; KARLSSON Linda Katharina; HANAKOVA Michaela; DRAGONETTI Giulia; CABIRTA Alba; CAROLINE Berg Venemyr; GRAEFE Stefanie; JENS Van Praet; TRAGIANNIDIS Athanasios; PETZER Verena; LOPEZ-GARCIA Alberto; ITRI Federico; GROH Ana; GAVRIILAKI Eleni; DARGENIO Michelina; RAHIMLI Laman A; CORNELY Oliver A; PAGANO Livio
• Year of publication: 2023
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Frontiers in immunology
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Web: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125030/full
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1125030
• Keywords: allogeneic HSCT; COVID-19 infection; immunocompromised patients; SARS-CoV-2; hematological malignances
• Description: BackgroundThe outcome of COVID-19 in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients is almost uniformely considered poor. The aim of present study was to retrospectively analyse the outcome and risk factors for mortality in a large series of patients who developed COVID-19 infection after an allogeneic HSCT. MethodsThis multicenter retrospective study promoted by the European Hematology Association - Infections in Hematology Study Working Group, included 326 adult HSCT patients who had COVID-19 between January 2020 and March 2022. ResultsThe median time from HSCT to the diagnosis of COVID-19 was 268 days (IQR 86-713; range 0-185 days). COVID-19 severity was mild in 21% of the patients, severe in 39% and critical in 16% of the patients. In multivariable analysis factors associated with a higher risk of mortality were, age above 50 years, presence of 3 or more comorbidities, active hematologic disease at time of COVID-19 infection, development of COVID-19 within 12 months of HSCT, and severe/critical infections. Overall mortality rate was 21% (n=68): COVID-19 was the main or secondary cause of death in 16% of the patients (n=53). ConclusionsMortality in HSCT recipients who develop COVID-19 is high and largely dependent on age, comorbidities, active hematologic disease, timing from transplant and severity of the infection.