Underlying haematological malignancy has previously been shown to be a major risk factor for worse outcomes from infection with SARS-CoV-2. There is concern that this same patient group may mount reduced immune responses to the COVID-19 vaccinations, and thus derive less protection from them.
In the general population, with high levels of vaccination, serious adverse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with the Omicron variant appear to be much reduced, but it is not yet clear what level of risk remains in patients with underlying haematological malignancies.
We propose to analyse rates of death in this group of patients since the start of the pandemic, to determine if there is a trend to reducing death rates, and to help us counsel our patient population on the residual degree of risk remaining from infection.
Depending on the number of cases, we hope to assess the impact of age, underlying haematological diagnosis and comorbidities on the mortality rates.