Cancer, Transplant, and Immunocompromising Conditions Were Not Significantly Associated with Severe Illness or Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Krasnow, Maya R.; Litt, Henry K.; Lehmann, Christopher J.; Lio, Jonathon; Zhu, Mengqi; Sherer, Renslow

OBJECTIVE: : Patients with cancer, transplant, and other immunocompromising conditions are at uncertain risk of severe COVID-19 illness. This study aimed to clarify whether patients with immunocompromising conditions were more likely to develop severe COVID-19 illness in a single urban academic medical center. METHODS: : A retrospective chart review and electronic data extraction of the first 401 patients at the University of Chicago Hospitals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed. Patients met criteria for severe COVID-19 illness if they required ICU level care, high flow oxygen, positive pressure support, helmet non-invasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or ECMO, developed ARDS, or died. RESULTS: : The mean age was 60 years, 52% were women, 90% were Black, and mortality at 30 days post discharge was 13%. Severe COVID-19 illness was found in 168 (40%) patients. Of the 56 patients with past or current cancer, 25 (45%) had severe illness (p=0.76). Of the 55 patients with other immunocompromised conditions, 24 (44%) had severe illness (p=0.89) After controlling for age, sex, and race, neither cancer (p=0.73) nor immunocompromised conditions (p=0.64) were associated with severe illness. CONCLUSION: : No association was found between severe COVID-19 illness and cancer, transplant, and other immunocompromising conditions in a cohort of mostly Black patients.