Seasonal community-acquired respiratory virus infections in patients with cancer—Epidemiological and clinical overview, an analysis of the multicenter OncoReVir registry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARV) can cause severe infections in patients with cancer. To characterize epidemiology and outcome, the multicenter registry OncoReVir was established in November 2018. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From November 2018 to October 2024, 2080 patients with cancer and CARV infection were enrolled. Only patients with a single CARV infection were analyzed (n = 1975). Data included demographics, cancer characteristics, and clinical course. A subgroup (n = 381) compared epidemiology and outcome across pre-, peri-, and postpandemic periods. Predefined endpoints were pneumonia, ICU admission, and infection-related mortality. RESULTS: Median age was 61 years (interquartile range 52-69), 42.5% were female, and 85.5% had hematological diseases. Most frequent CARVs were severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (36%), influenza (22.5%), human parainfluenza virus (hPIV, 12.5%), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, 12%). Epidemiology (excluding SARS-CoV-2) shifted by period: prepandemic, influenza predominated (70.5%); pandemic, RSV (31%); postpandemic, RSV (27.5%), and hPIV (25.5%). Overall, 53% patients were hospitalized, 7% required ICU care, pneumonia occurred in 22.5%, and infection-related mortality was 4% (overall mortality 28%). Endpoint occurrence varied minimally across phases. Influenza drove prepandemic severity, whereas other CARVs became relevant during/after the pandemic. CONCLUSION: CARV epidemiology in patients with cancer changed substantially across pandemic phases, while clinical severity and infection-related mortality remained largely unchanged.
Authors: Maria M. Rüthrich, Timo Schmitt, Annika Y. Classen, Juliane Brandt, Karsten Spiekermann, Anna D. Doleschal, Alva Seltmann, Larissa Henze, Jens Panse, Gabriel Sauer, Katharina Schmaedel, Enrico Schalk, Maria J.G.T. Vehreschild, Jörg J. Vehreschild, Daniel Teschner, Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal, Nicola Giesen
Institutions: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University of Cologne, German Center for Infection Research, University Hospital Cologne, Heidelberg University, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital Frankfurt, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Robert Bosch Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,900
Award: G6435079416
OpenAlex ID: W7126044677