Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project

Gerard C Millen; Roland Arnold; Jean-Baptiste Cazier; Helen Curley; Richard G Feltbower; Ashley Gamble; Adam W Glaser; Richard G Grundy; Lennard Y W Lee; Martin G McCabe; Robert S Phillips; Charles A Stiller; Csilla Várnai; Pamela R Kearns

doi:10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0

Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project

Gerard C Millen, Roland Arnold, Jean-Baptiste Cazier, Helen Curley, Richard G Feltbower, Ashley Gamble, Adam W Glaser, Richard G Grundy, Lennard Y W Lee, Martin G McCabe, Robert S Phillips, Charles A Stiller, Csilla Várnai, Pamela R Kearns

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

158 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children with cancer are frequently immunocompromised. While children are generally thought to be at less risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults, comprehensive population-based evidence for the risk in children with cancer is unavailable. We aimed to produce evidence of the incidence and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 in children with cancer attending all hospitals treating this population across the UK.

METHODS: Retrospective and prospective observational study of all children in the UK under 16 diagnosed with cancer through data collection from all hospitals providing cancer care to this population. Eligible patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary end-point was death, discharge or end of active care for COVID-19 for those remaining in hospital.

RESULTS: Between 12 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 54 cases were identified: 15 (28%) were asymptomatic, 34 (63%) had mild infections and 5 (10%) moderate, severe or critical infections. No patients died and only three patients required intensive care support due to COVID-19. Estimated incidence of hospital identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer under 16 was 3%.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with cancer with SARS-CoV-2 infection do not appear at increased risk of severe infection compared to the general paediatric population. This is reassuring and supports the continued delivery of standard treatment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	754-759
Number of pages	7
Journal	British Journal of Cancer
Volume	124
Early online date	10 Dec 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0
Publication status	Published - 16 Feb 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

MillenG2020SeverityFinal published version, 401 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Cite this

Millen, G. C., Arnold, R., Cazier, J-B., Curley, H., Feltbower, R. G., Gamble, A., Glaser, A. W., Grundy, R. G., Lee, L. Y. W., McCabe, M. G., Phillips, R. S., Stiller, C. A., Várnai, C., & Kearns, P. R. (2021). Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project. British Journal of Cancer, 124, 754-759. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0

@article{ef7fee563344413cb7aaaf5931b73c34,

title = "Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Children with cancer are frequently immunocompromised. While children are generally thought to be at less risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults, comprehensive population-based evidence for the risk in children with cancer is unavailable. We aimed to produce evidence of the incidence and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 in children with cancer attending all hospitals treating this population across the UK.METHODS: Retrospective and prospective observational study of all children in the UK under 16 diagnosed with cancer through data collection from all hospitals providing cancer care to this population. Eligible patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary end-point was death, discharge or end of active care for COVID-19 for those remaining in hospital.RESULTS: Between 12 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 54 cases were identified: 15 (28%) were asymptomatic, 34 (63%) had mild infections and 5 (10%) moderate, severe or critical infections. No patients died and only three patients required intensive care support due to COVID-19. Estimated incidence of hospital identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer under 16 was 3%.CONCLUSIONS: Children with cancer with SARS-CoV-2 infection do not appear at increased risk of severe infection compared to the general paediatric population. This is reassuring and supports the continued delivery of standard treatment.",

author = "Millen, {Gerard C} and Roland Arnold and Jean-Baptiste Cazier and Helen Curley and Feltbower, {Richard G} and Ashley Gamble and Glaser, {Adam W} and Grundy, {Richard G} and Lee, {Lennard Y W} and McCabe, {Martin G} and Phillips, {Robert S} and Stiller, {Charles A} and Csilla V{\'a}rnai and Kearns, {Pamela R}",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0",

language = "English",

volume = "124",

pages = "754--759",

journal = "British Journal of Cancer",

issn = "0007-0920",

publisher = "Cancer Research UK",

}

Millen, GC, Arnold, R, Cazier, J-B, Curley, H, Feltbower, RG, Gamble, A, Glaser, AW, Grundy, RG, Lee, LYW, McCabe, MG, Phillips, RS, Stiller, CA, Várnai, C & Kearns, PR 2021, 'Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project', British Journal of Cancer, vol. 124, pp. 754-759. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0

TY - JOUR

T1 - Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer

T2 - Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project

AU - Millen, Gerard C

AU - Arnold, Roland

AU - Cazier, Jean-Baptiste

AU - Curley, Helen

AU - Feltbower, Richard G

AU - Gamble, Ashley

AU - Glaser, Adam W

AU - Grundy, Richard G

AU - Lee, Lennard Y W

AU - McCabe, Martin G

AU - Phillips, Robert S

AU - Stiller, Charles A

AU - Várnai, Csilla

AU - Kearns, Pamela R

PY - 2021/2/16

Y1 - 2021/2/16

N2 - BACKGROUND: Children with cancer are frequently immunocompromised. While children are generally thought to be at less risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults, comprehensive population-based evidence for the risk in children with cancer is unavailable. We aimed to produce evidence of the incidence and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 in children with cancer attending all hospitals treating this population across the UK.METHODS: Retrospective and prospective observational study of all children in the UK under 16 diagnosed with cancer through data collection from all hospitals providing cancer care to this population. Eligible patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary end-point was death, discharge or end of active care for COVID-19 for those remaining in hospital.RESULTS: Between 12 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 54 cases were identified: 15 (28%) were asymptomatic, 34 (63%) had mild infections and 5 (10%) moderate, severe or critical infections. No patients died and only three patients required intensive care support due to COVID-19. Estimated incidence of hospital identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer under 16 was 3%.CONCLUSIONS: Children with cancer with SARS-CoV-2 infection do not appear at increased risk of severe infection compared to the general paediatric population. This is reassuring and supports the continued delivery of standard treatment.

AB - BACKGROUND: Children with cancer are frequently immunocompromised. While children are generally thought to be at less risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than adults, comprehensive population-based evidence for the risk in children with cancer is unavailable. We aimed to produce evidence of the incidence and outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 in children with cancer attending all hospitals treating this population across the UK.METHODS: Retrospective and prospective observational study of all children in the UK under 16 diagnosed with cancer through data collection from all hospitals providing cancer care to this population. Eligible patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary end-point was death, discharge or end of active care for COVID-19 for those remaining in hospital.RESULTS: Between 12 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 54 cases were identified: 15 (28%) were asymptomatic, 34 (63%) had mild infections and 5 (10%) moderate, severe or critical infections. No patients died and only three patients required intensive care support due to COVID-19. Estimated incidence of hospital identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer under 16 was 3%.CONCLUSIONS: Children with cancer with SARS-CoV-2 infection do not appear at increased risk of severe infection compared to the general paediatric population. This is reassuring and supports the continued delivery of standard treatment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097380236&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0

DO - 10.1038/s41416-020-01181-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 33299130

SN - 0007-0920

VL - 124

SP - 754

EP - 759

JO - British Journal of Cancer

JF - British Journal of Cancer

ER -

Severity of COVID-19 in children with cancer: Report from the United Kingdom Paediatric Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this