Outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in patients with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas: A US electronic health record cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes in patients with mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (mature B-cell NHL) compared with other cancers and to identify risk factors associated with severe COVID-19.

Methods: This study used Optum's electronic health record database. Risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Patients with mature B-cell NHL were more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 (age- and sex-standardized risk: 15.6%, 2.1%, respectively) than those without cancer (9.5%, 1.2%), or with solid tumors (9.7%, 1.3%). In patients with mature B-cell NHL, factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes included: greater age (75-84 years, adjusted odds ratio, 1.6 [95% CI, 1.3-2.0]; ≥85, 2.6 [2.0-3.4]), male sex (1.4 [1.2-1.6]), chronic kidney disease (1.4 [1.1-1.7]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.3 [1.0-1.6]), type 2 diabetes (1.3 [1.1-1.5]), and receiving treatment for NHL (1.5 [1.1-2.1]).

Conclusions: These data suggest that patients with mature B-cell NHL are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 than patients with solid tumors or without cancer and that risk factors are largely consistent with those in the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; epidemiology; hematology; hospitalization; lymphoma; mortality; neoplasms; observational study.