Outcomes and Patterns of Evolution of Patients with Hematological Malignancies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study (2020–2022)

Abstract

Background: Early reports suggest that hematological malignancy (HM) is a relevant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in COVID-19. We investigated the characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality in patients hospitalized with HM and COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, nationwide study using data from hospitalized patients that were provided by the Spanish Ministry of Health including all patients admitted to a Spanish hospital from 2020 to 2022 with a COVID-19 diagnosis. A descriptive analysis and correlational analyses were conducted. Logistic regression was used to assess mortality in these patients and to calculate odds ratios (ORs). Results: We collected data on 1.2 million patients with COVID-19, including 34,962 patients with HMs. The incidence of hospitalization for patients with HMs was 5.8%, and the overall mortality rate was higher than for patients without HMs (19.8% versus 12.7%, p = 0.001). Mortality rates were higher for patients with lymphomas, multiple myelomas, and leukemias than for those with myeloproliferative disorders. Having HMs was a risk factor for mortality, with OR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.66–1.75, p = 0.001). By subtype, non-Hodgkin lymphomas were the highest risk factor for mortality (OR = 1.7), followed by leukemias (OR = 1.6), Hodgkin lymphomas (OR = 1.58), and plasma cell dyscrasias (OR = 1.24). Conclusions: This study identifies the different clinical profiles of patients with HMs who are at a high risk for mortality when hospitalized with COVID-19. As members of a vulnerable population, these patients deserve special prophylactic and therapeutic measures to minimize the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.