Survival in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and COVID-19 in Mexico

Aims: To determine the survival of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and COVID-19.

Study Design: Prospective, analytical and relational.

Place and Duration of Study: Hematology department, Hospital of Specialties, High Specialty Medical Unit, National Medical Center "Gral. Manuel Avila Camacho", Puebla, Mexico, during the period June 2020-April 2021

Methodology: Patients aged 15 to 64 years, both sexes, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR. The variables included were; sex, age (groups: 15-20; 21-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; and 60-64), comorbidities, general treatment and hematological treatment response. Survival was determined for the diagnosis of COVID-19 for 11 months, using the Kaplan Meier estimator and the Log-Rak test; Cox regression model (univariate and multivariate); as well as Chi square and V-Cramer with a 95% confidence interval and using the statistical program SPSS Ver. 25.

Results: The study consisted of 20 patients, of which 33.3% were women, with an average age of 37.75 ± 11.63 years; The men registered an age of 28.50 ± 18.05 years. Overall survival was 50%, with a lower limit of 101.3 and an upper limit of 242.5 days, with a mean of 171.9 days; and median at 17 days. No significant differences were found in survival regarding sex, comorbidities, general treatment and hematological response. However, mortality in patients with comorbidities was higher (p = 0.051).

Conclusion: Survival in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and COVID-19 is low, due to complications that increase mortality, mainly owing to hematological suppression, and even more so with the presence of comorbidities.