Mortality in patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection: Results from the Argentinean Network of Hospital-Based Cancer Registries

BACKGROUND: Cancer is an important risk factor in patients with COVID-19. We aimed to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics associated with mortality in patients with cancer who were infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study of 1206 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and cancer, registered in the Argentinean Network of Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (RITA) from March 31, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Demographic and clinical differences between survivors and non-survivors were summarized using descriptive statistics. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. Risk factors for mortality were identified using logistic regression models. RESULTS: 1206 patients with cancer and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, median age was 54 years (interquartile range: 42–65); 793 (65.8%) were female. 1101 (91.3%) had solid tumors and 105(8.7%) had hematological malignancies. The most frequent solid tumor was breast (278, 23.1%), while lymphoma was the main hematological one (59, 4.9%). Cervical cancer was more frequent in survivors, while lung cancer predominated in non-survivors. 275 (22.8%) patients were diagnosed with cancer within the past year. A total of 129 (10.7%) patients died within 30 days after COVID-19 diagnosis, with a case fatality rate of 15.2% (16/105) for hematologic malignancies and 10.3% (113/1101) for solid tumors. Multivariable regression analysis showed that age 60–79 (odds ratio [OR]: 4.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.72–9.70), age ≥ 80 (OR: 12.86, 95%CI: 5.08–32.54), time since cancer diagnosis < 1 year (OR: 2.49, 95%CI: 1.57–3.93) and 1–2 years (OR: 2.20, 95%CI: 1.36–3.57), and lung cancer (OR: 4.35, 95%CI: 2.02–9.36) were risk factors for death. CONCLUSION: Patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection had a high case-fatality rate. Identified risk factors (older age, recent diagnosis and lung type) could guide prevention strategies aimed at reducing the risk of dying from COVID-19 in cancer patients.