Epidemiology and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients in the Veneto Oncology Network: The ROVID Study

Guarneri, Valentina; Bassan, Franco; Zagonel, Vittorina; Milella, Michele; Zaninelli, Marta; Cattelan, Anna Maria; Vianello, Andrea; Gori, Stefania; Aprile, Giuseppe; Azzarello, Giuseppe; Chiari, Rita; Favaretto, Adolfo; Oliani, Cristina; Scola, Annamaria; Pastorelli, Davide; Mandarà , Marta; Zustovich, Fable; Bernardi, Daniele; Chiarion-Sileni, Vanna; Morandi, Paolo; Toso, Silvia; Di Liso, Elisabetta; Ziampiri, Stamatia; Caccese, Mario; Zampiva, Ilaria; Puccetti, Oliviero; Celestino, Michele; Dieci, Maria Vittoria; Conte, PierFranco

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 pandemic started in Italy with clusters identified in Northern Italy. The Veneto Oncology Network ROV licensed dedicated guidelines to ensure proper care minimizing the risk of infection in cancer patient. ROVID is a regional registry aimed at describing epidemiology and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with cancer diagnosis and documented SARS-CoV-2 infection are eligible. Data on cancer diagnosis, comorbidities, anticancer treatments as well as details on SARS-CoV-infection (hospitalization, treatments, fate of the infection) have been recorded. Logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate the association between clinical/laboratory variables and death from any cause. RESULTS: 170 patients have been enrolled. Median age at time of the SARS-CoV-infection was 70 years (25-92). The most common cancer type was breast cancer (n=40). The majority of the patients had stage IV disease. Half of the patients had 2 or more comorbidities. The majority of the patients (78%) presented with COVID-19 symptoms. More than 77% of the patients were hospitalized, and 6% were admitted to intensive care units. Overall, 104 patients have documented resolution of the infection. Fifty-seven patients (33%) have died. In 29 cases (17%) the cause of death was directly correlated to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Factors significantly correlated with the risk of death were: ECOG PS, age, presence of 2 or more comorbidities, presence of dyspnea, COVID-19 phenotype >=3, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio and thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate reported in this confirms the frailty of this population. These data reinforce the need to protect cancer patients from SARS-CoV2 infection.