A recent study from Karolinska Institutet has found that childhood cancer survivors face a significantly higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, even years after their treatment.

The research analyzed over 13,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20, comparing their outcomes to those of their siblings and a control group with similar demographics.

Lead author Javier Louro emphasized the serious consequences that COVID-19 can have for these survivors, despite their generally lower rates of infection.

Louro suggests that childhood cancer survivors should be classified as a vulnerable group during health crises, warranting priority vaccination and special protective measures.

The study also highlights the importance of protective behaviors, noting that survivors tended to exhibit more cautious behavior during the pandemic due to their increased risk.

Among the findings, solid tumor survivors were found to have a 63% higher risk of severe COVID-19 compared to the general population, with this risk becoming more pronounced during later waves of the pandemic.

The heightened risk for severe COVID-19 was particularly evident during periods of high virus transmission, especially with the spread of the Alpha and Omicron variants.

In Sweden, where pandemic measures were largely recommendation-based, the risk for childhood cancer survivors was greater compared to Denmark, which implemented stricter early interventions.

The study underscores the importance of public health planning for childhood cancer survivors, especially as improved treatments have raised five-year survival rates to over 85% in high-income countries.

This significant study was conducted in collaboration with the Danish Cancer Institute and was funded by the Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund and the Swedish Research Council.