Severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in myelofibrosis patients treated with ruxolitinib: Observational, prospective, of the case-control type study

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the course and outcome of the disease in MF patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 with special attention to patients on ruxolitinib therapy. The study is observational, prospective, conducted in real life settings, of the case-control type. SARS-CoV-2 were followed as an active group, and MF patients who were not infected as a control group. The subject of the study are patients with MF treated with ruxolitinib during the period 03.2020. until 03.2022. Sources of data for the studied indicators are the patients, their health files, or their relatives. To estimate the risk of adverse outcomes in COVID 19 disease in patients with MF and fatal outcome, a number of risks were calculated. Of the monitored patients with MF, a total of 5 (14.3%) died during this period. Of these, 3 patients died as a result of progression of the haematological disease or a complication of another concomitant disease. 2 (12.5%) patients died from COVID 19 infection or its complications. Both had a severe infection. A thrombotic event was reported in 1 patient. During this period, 9 (25.7%) of the monitored patients were vaccinated. The treatment was stopped due to COVID 19 in 4 of the sick patients. In the rest, it was continued without a change in the dose. Disease progression is a more important factor, as the chance of death after progression is 33% more likely than after COVID 19. Among MF patients, the probability of getting COVOD 19 is 45%, but the results show that they will successfully recover from it (30% higher probability). Patients with MF have COVID 19 more often than the general population. Mortality in the observation group was higher compared to the general population but comparable to published data for patients with MF. The disease is more often mild or medium-severe.