Chemotherapy Increases the Risk of Developing Severe Illness in Breast Cancer Patients with COVID-19: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study in Hubei, China

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant worldwide health crisis. Patients with malignancy are considered at substantially increased risk of infection and poor outcomes. Breast cancer patients with COVID-19 represent an urgent clinical need. This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics of breast cancer patients with COVID-19 and risks associated with anti-cancer treatment.Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 45 breast cancer patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at seven designated hospitals in Hubei, China. The medical records of breast cancer patients were collected from the records of 9559 COVID-19 patients from 13th January, 2020 to 18th March, 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess risk factors for COVID-19 severity.Results: Of 45 breast cancer patients with COVID-19, 33 (73.3%) developed non-severe COVID-19, while 12 (26.7%) developed severe COVID-19, of which 3 (6.7%) patients died. The median age was 62 years, and 3 (6.7%) patients had stage IV breast cancer. Most patients developed fever (37, 82.2%), and most had bilateral lung involvement on chest CT (36, 80.0%). Univariate analysis showed the age over 75 and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score were associated with COVID-19 disease severity (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed patients received chemotherapy within 7 days had a significantly higher risk for severe COVID-19 (logistic regression model: RR=13.886, 95% CI 1.014-190.243, P=0.049; Cox proportional hazards model: HR=13.909, 95% CI 1.086-178.150, P=0.043), with more pronounced neutropenia and higher LDH, CRP and procalcitonin levels than patients else (P<0.05).Conclusions: The severity of COVID-19 in breast cancer patients was associated with baseline factors of the age over 75 and ECOG score, but not with tumor characteristics. Chemotherapy within 7 days before symptom onset was a risk factor for severe COVID-19, reflected by neutropenia and elevated LDH, CRP and procalcitonin levels.