COVID-19 in pediatric survivors of childhood cancer and hematopoietic cell transplantation from a single center in New York City

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 Mar;68(3):e28857. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28857. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for treatment-related late effects; data are lacking on how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection impacts this cohort. We assessed COVID-19-related symptoms, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG seroprevalence, and rate of COVID-19-related hospitalization among 321 asymptomatic survivors of childhood cancer or transplantation seen for routine long-term follow-up between May and September 2020 in a New York City tertiary cancer center. While 10.9% (n = 35) reported possible COVID-19-related symptoms, 7.8% (n = 20) of those tested had positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and one patient (0.3%) required COVID-19-related hospitalization. This report suggests that childhood cancer survivors appear to be at relatively low risk for COVID-19 complications.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; childhood cancer; survivors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Cancer Survivors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G