key: cord-0833777-t5k8o6sb authors: Jimenez‐Kurlander, Lauren; Antal, Zoltan; DeRosa, Amelia; Diotallevi, Deborah; Pottenger, Elaine; Wilson, Nadia; Corcoran, Stacie; Boulad, Farid; Friedman, Danielle Novetsky title: COVID‐19 in pediatric survivors of childhood cancer and hematopoietic cell transplantation from a single center in New York City date: 2020-12-23 journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28857 sha: 2fabd3d3ef0f1ba94cc9bde779e1e8a16e619428 doc_id: 833777 cord_uid: t5k8o6sb 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. TA B L E 1 Demographic and treatment characteristics of all patients seen for routine pediatric long-term follow-up visits between May 5 and Sept 10, 2020 The protocol was approved by the MSK Institutional Review/Privacy Board. In this large pediatric survivor cohort followed in New York City for COVID-19. 10, [12] [13] [14] We hypothesize that survivors and their families were already adept at mask wearing and social distancing and thus less likely to contract disease. Alternatively, a subset of survivors may have been unable to mount a serologic response to COVID-19 due to impaired immunity related to prior underlying diagnosis or cytotoxic treatment(s). Our patient population is also less racially and ethnically diverse than the larger New York City pediatric population and may partially account for the relatively low disease burden in this cohort. Future investigation is necessary to clarify these findings. Various limitations must be considered. While the clinical significance of SARS-CoV-2 serology remains unclear, positive antibodies appear to be a reasonable indicator of prior disease in asymptomatic individuals. 9, 15 Additionally, since only one patient reported severe disease requiring hospitalization, we were unable to assess associations between prior cancer therapies and COVID-19 severity. The retrospective, single-center design and reliance on patient/family recall also likely introduced bias. However, since nearly one-third of visits were conducted via telehealth, the cohort includes patients who were unable/unwilling to travel to NYC and individuals who were too ill to attend in-person visits. Survivors of childhood cancer in the United States: prevalence and burden of morbidity Health support to pediatric cancer survivors and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic Addressing the needs of cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 in Immunocompromised Hosts: what We Know So Far Guidance regarding COVID-19 for survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer: a statement from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group Infections among long-term survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Summary of COVID-19 clinical practice adjustments across select institutions Performance characteristics of the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and Seroprevalence in Antibody tests for identification of current and past infection with SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 in children with cancer in New York City Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data COVID-19 infection in children and adolescents with cancer in Madrid SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in oncology healthcare professionals and patients with cancer at a tertiary care centre during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 in pediatric oncology from French pediatric oncology and hematology centers: high risk of severe forms Interpreting diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2