December 2021 - We are delighted that the iCMLf CML and COVID-19 (CANDID data) was presented at the 63^rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) this week. The iCMLf CANDID study represents the largest global cohort study of CML patients with COVID-19 aiming to collect and analyse characteristics of COVID-19 cases among CML patients globally. During ASH, Dr Katia Pagnano presented an update of the CANDID data that explored the impact of various risk factors, such as co-morbidities, age, disease phase, CML treatment and economic status of the country of origin on clinical outcomes.

The CANDID real world data collection with more than 1,000 cases from 59 countries would not have been possible without the 186 physicians who contributed case reports. We thank everybody for their valuable contributions.

If you are looking for more ASH news, join us for the live CML highlights with Professor Susan Branford and Associate Professor Charles Chuah on December 23 at 13.00 Central European Time. (More details below)

An update of the CANDID study -
Poor outcomes for patients with comorbidities, older age, advanced phase disease, and those from low-income countries

‘The mortality rate of COVID-19 in CML was lower than in other haematological diseases’ (Dr Katia Pagnano)

The analysis based on 642 cases of COVID-19 reported from 49 countries confirmed a higher mortality for CML patients with COVID-19 in older patients (>75 years), patients with cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidities and from low and low-middle income countries, the latter probably related to limitations in supportive care. Additionally, more deaths occurred in patients in advanced phases and in patients not in MMR.

CML treatment and line of TKI therapy did not influence the COVID-19 outcome.

Read the full abstract here

If you have registered for ASH, you can watch the presentation here

Final CML and COVID-19 case summary

Since the ASH abstract was submitted we have closed the registry and are now working on the final data.

The full case summary comprises a total case number of 1,056 COVID-19 and CML cases submitted from 157 institutions in 59 countries. 418 cases reported on COVID-19 vaccination and the impact of vaccination will be analysed in the follow-up.  

We are looking forward to sharing the full statistical analysis with you in the New Year.