COVID-19 in patients with CLL: improved survival outcomes and update on management strategies

[JIDD]

mashupmd.com/covid-19-in-pa...

- then click on "Read the full article here"

Lead author Roeker, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NYC others from US, UK, Sweden, Spain

This is one of the biggest studies I have noticed and it shows a big improvement in outcomes between early 2020 and late 2020-early 2021 - "Our findings mirrored population-based studies[ref 1-3] with falling CFR[case fatality rate] (35% in those diagnosed before 5/1/2020 vs. 11% in those diagnosed after 5/1/2020). " . [see note on US-style dates below]

The report does not give vaccine status but ends by saying "Coupled with prior reports of decreased responses to other vaccines,[ref 13-19] further study is ongoing to understand immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in CLL patients. "

More selected quotes -

"With enhanced testing availability and evolution of therapeutic strategies, survival of COVID-19 infected patients has improved over time." "In this retrospective study, investigators from 45 centers identified patients with CLL diagnosed with

COVID-19 based on PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 between 2/17/2020 and 2/1/2021." "“early cohort” diagnosed 2/17/2020-4/30/2020 and “later cohort” diagnosed 5/1/2020-2/1/2021" [note US-style dates month/day/year - so these are Feb2020-Apr2020 and May2020-Jan2021 respectively] "analysis included 374 patients with CLL diagnosed with COVID-19" "A larger proportion of patients in the early cohort were admitted (85% vs. 55%) and required ICU admission (32% vs. 15%)"

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Previously posted about here with plots, but worth repeating!healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil

[bennevisplace]

Thanks. It's interesting that the strongest indicators of mortality were age >75 and cumulative illness rating, while hypogammaglobulinaemia and CLL treatment - implying weak immunity based on antibody testing - were not associated with survival.