Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in children with cancer―update 2022

Abstract

A review was conducted regarding novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pediatric cancer patients since December 2021. In the United Kingdom, there was a decrease (−17%) in the number of cancer diagnoses since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic with particularly significant decreases for brain tumors (−38%) and lymphomas (−28%). The total incidence of hemophagocytic syndrome also decreased to 73.7% in Japan. Mortality rates for childhood cancer with COVID-19 varied from 3% in high-income countries, 12% in upper-middle-income countries, and 13% in low-income countries, with a meta-analysis of 3,354 cases showing a mortality rate of 4%. In the large US COVID-19 registry of pediatric cancer, 1,950 cases were accumulated, with hematologic tumors accounting for 45% and relapsed cases for 59% among the 73 deaths (3.7%). In Japan, 61 cases were reported as of July 1, 2022, and most were mild or asymptomatic with no deaths. Five-year survivors (n=12,410) of childhood, adolescent, and young adult in Canada were compared with 124,100 controls. Although cancer survivors had a higher number and frequency of PCR tests, they were equally likely to be SARS-CoV-2-positive (3.1% vs. 3.2%) and no one died with no increased clinical risk. Cancer survivors had significantly higher vaccination rates and did not have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the global pediatric oncology work environment, resulting in difficult changes in staffing and the use of telemedicine and other methods in long-term follow-up.