Breakthrough COVID-19 in vaccinated patients with hematologic malignancies: results from the EPICOVIDEHA survey

Limited data are available on breakthrough COVID-19 in patients with hematologic malignancy (HM) after anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination. Adult patients with HM, >= 1 dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and breakthrough COVID-19 between January 2021 and March 2022 were analyzed. A total of 1548 cases were included, mainly lymphoid malignancies (1181 cases, 76%). After viral sequencing in 753 cases (49%), the Omicron variant was prevalent (517, 68.7%). Most of the patients received <= 2 vaccine doses before COVID-19 (1419, 91%), mostly mRNAbased (1377, 89%). Overall, 906 patients (59%) received COVID-19-specific treatment. After 30-day follow-up from COVID-19 diagnosis, 143 patients (9%) died. The mortality rate in patients with the Omicron variant was 7.9%, comparable to other variants, with a significantly lower 30-day mortality rate than in the prevaccine era (31%). In the univariable analysis, older age (P <.001), active HM (P <.001), and severe and critical COVID-19 (P =.007 and P <.001, respectively) were associated with mortality. Conversely, patients receiving monoclonal antibodies, even for severe or critical COVID-19, had a lower mortality rate (P <.001). In the multivariable model, older age, active disease, critical COVID-19, and 2-3 comorbidities were correlated with a higher mortality, whereas monoclonal antibody administration, alone (P <.001) or combined with antivirals (P =.009), was protective. Although mortality is significantly lower than in the prevaccination era, breakthrough COVID-19 in HM is still associated with considerable mortality. Death rate was lower in patients who received monoclonal antibodies, alone or in combination with antivirals.

Automated summary

Limited data are available on breakthrough COVID-19 in patients with hematologic malignancy (HM) after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This study found a relatively low mortality rate among patients with breakthrough COVID-19, with the Omicron variant being the predominant strain. Patients receiving monoclonal antibody treatment had a lower mortality rate.