Clinical characteristics and evolution of hematological patients and COVID-19 in Argentina: a report from the Argentine Society of Hematology.

Basquiera, Ana L; García, Mercedes J; Martinez Rolón, Juliana; Olmedo, Julieta; Laviano, Julia; Burgos, Rubén; Caeiro, Gastón; Remaggi, Guillermina; Raña, Pablo; Paoletti, Mariano; González, Carlos M; Fernández, Isolda; Pavlovsky, Astrid; Perusini, Maria A; Rodriguez, Andrea; Guanchiale, Luciana; Carvani, Analia; Mandrile, Laura; Figueroa, Flavia; Vicente Reparaz, Angeles; Fragapane Mathus, Patricia N; Garate, Gonzalo; Fauque, María E; Kantor, Gustavo; Cruset, Soledad; Gonzalez Lorch, Jacqueline S; Szelagowski, Milagros; Giarini, María P; Oliveira, Natalia; García, María C; Ventriglia, María V; Pereyra, Patricio H; Gutierrez, Daniel R; Kusminsky, Gustavo; Troccoli, Josefina; Freitas, María J; Cranco, Santiago; Del V Sanchez, Natalia; Rey, Irene; Funes, María E; Jarchum, Sol; Freue, Julian; Miroli, Augusto; Guerrero, Osvaldo; López Ares, Lisa; Campestri, Reinaldo; Bove, Victor; Salinas, Graciela N; Cabrejo, María; Milone, Jorge H; Zabaljauregui, Soledad; Gotta, Daniel; Dupont, Juan Carlos; Stemmelin, German

Individuals with malignancies and COVID-19 have a lower survival compared with the general population. However, the information about the impact of COVID-19 on the whole hematological population is scarce. We aimed to describe the 30th day overall survival (OS) after COVID-19 infection in patients with a hematological disease in Argentina. A completely anonymous survey from the Argentine Society of Hematology was delivered to all the hematologists in Argentina; it started in April 2020. A cut-off to analyze the data was performed in December 2020 and, finally, 419 patients were reported and suitable for the analysis (average age: 58 years, 90% with malignant diseases). After the COVID-19 diagnosis, the 30-day OS for the whole population was 80.2%. From the entire group (419), 101 (24.1%) individuals required intensive care unit admission, where the 30-day OS was 46.6%. Among allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients, the 30-day OS was 70.3%. Factors associated with a low OS were two or more comorbidities, an active hematological disease and history of chemotherapy. In individuals with the three factors, the 30-day OS was 49.6% while the 30-day OS in those without those factors was 100%. Patients with hematological diseases have a higher mortality than the general population. This group represents a challenge and requires careful decision-making of the treatment in order not to compromise the chances of cure.