To help physicians confidently treat people with CML during the pandemic, the iCMLf has collected and analysed COVID-19 cases among patients with CML globally.

With over 1,000 cases reported by >190 physicians from 59 countries the iCMLf CANDID study represents the largest cohort of CML patients with COVID-19 aiming to collect and analyse characteristics of COVID-19 cases among CML patients globally.

An update of the CANDID study -
Subanalysis of patients with COVID-19 and CML on TKI treatment

Presented at the John Goldman Conference on CML 2022 (Lorenzo M et al.)

This subanalysis of the CANDID study investigated the role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI's) on clinical evoluation and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and CML. Severity and mortality of COVID-19 was analyzed according to age, type of TKI, line of treatment, disease stage, TKI response, treatment interruption during infection, standard or modified dose of imatinib, and number or comorbidities.

Conclusion: Survival of COVID-19 in patients with CML on tyrosine kinase inhibitors is remarkable high and there is no difference within the type of TKI, supporting that it is safe to maintain TKi treatment during COVID-19 infection.

Read the full abstract here

An analysis based on 642 cases looking at various risk factors for clinical outcome was presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting in December 2021 and a publication of the final data is expected early next year.

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.

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

Presented at ASH 2021 (Pagnano K et al.)

'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

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 soon.