Key findings from the UKCCMP cohort of 877 patients with haematological malignancy and COVID-19: disease control as an important factor relative to recent chemotherapy or anti-CD20 therapy

Patients with haematological malignancies have a high risk of severe infection and death from SARS-CoV-2. In this prospective observational study, we investigated the impact of cancer type, disease activity, and treatment in 877 unvaccinated UK patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and active haematological cancer. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex and comorbidities, the highest mortality was in patients with acute leukaemia [odds ratio (OR) = 1 center dot 73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1 center dot 1-2 center dot 72, P = 0 center dot 017] and myeloma (OR 1 center dot 3, 95% CI 0 center dot 96-1 center dot 76, P = 0 center dot 08). Having uncontrolled cancer (newly diagnosed awaiting treatment as well as relapsed or progressive disease) was associated with increased mortality risk (OR = 2 center dot 45, 95% CI 1 center dot 09-5 center dot 5, P = 0 center dot 03), as was receiving second or beyond line of treatment (OR = 1 center dot 7, 95% CI 1 center dot 08-2 center dot 67, P = 0 center dot 023). We found no association between recent cytotoxic chemotherapy or anti-CD19/anti-CD20 treatment and increased risk of death within the limitations of the cohort size. Therefore, disease control is an important factor predicting mortality in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection alongside the possible risks of therapies such as cytotoxic treatment or anti-CD19/anti-CD20 treatments.