Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit

Özlem Öner

doi:10.18614/dehm.1873586

Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND In patients with hematological malignancies followed in the intensive care unit, the relationship between the number of days of prolonged polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity and mortality has not been clarified. METHODS All patients with hematological malignancies followed in the intensive care unit and who had a positive PCR test were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they survived or not. The relationship between the number of days of PCR positivity and mortality rate was investigated in these patients. RESULTS Among 31 COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancies admitted to the intensive care unit, 7 (22.6%) survived and 24 (77.4%) patients succumbed to the disease. The median duration of PCR positivity was 14 days (6-24) for the entire patient cohort, 11 (4-21) days for survivors, and 24 (21-52) days for non-survivors. Significantly longer PCR positivity times were observed in patients who died compared to survivors (p = 0.019). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was diagnosed in 22 (71%) patients and there was a statistically significant 22 (91.7%) mortality rate in hematologic malignancy patients with ARDS (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the mortality rate in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation was 23 (95.8%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION A relationship between long-term PCR positivity and mortality rates has been demonstrated in patients with hematologic malignancies. This patient group is at unique risk for long-term viral persistence and progressive and fatal respiratory symptoms. We believe that evidence-based strategies that promote viral clearance should be developed to prevent or manage persistent infection.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Intensive Care

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Özlem Öner
0000-0001-6171-2114
Türkiye

Publication Date

January 28, 2026

Submission Date

January 6, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 40 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18614/dehm.1873586

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA99DL89GM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Öner, Ö. (2026). Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit. Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine, 40(1), 35-49. https://doi.org/10.18614/dehm.1873586

AMA

1.Öner Ö. Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit. Dev Exp Health Med. 2026;40(1):35-49. doi:10.18614/dehm.1873586

Chicago

Öner, Özlem. 2026. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Prolonged PCR Positivity and Mortality Rate in COVID-19 Patients With Hematological Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit”. Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine 40 (1): 35-49. https://doi.org/10.18614/dehm.1873586.

EndNote

Öner Ö (January 1, 2026) Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit. Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine 40 1 35–49.

IEEE

[1]Ö. Öner, “Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit”, Dev Exp Health Med, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 35–49, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.18614/dehm.1873586.

ISNAD

Öner, Özlem. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Prolonged PCR Positivity and Mortality Rate in COVID-19 Patients With Hematological Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit”. Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine 40/1 (January 1, 2026): 35-49. https://doi.org/10.18614/dehm.1873586.

JAMA

1.Öner Ö. Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit. Dev Exp Health Med. 2026;40:35–49.

MLA

Öner, Özlem. “Investigation of the Relationship Between Prolonged PCR Positivity and Mortality Rate in COVID-19 Patients With Hematological Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit”. Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine, vol. 40, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 35-49, doi:10.18614/dehm.1873586.

Vancouver

1.Özlem Öner. Investigation of the relationship between prolonged PCR positivity and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the intensive care unit. Dev Exp Health Med. 2026 Jan. 1;40(1):35-49. doi:10.18614/dehm.1873586