The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on umbilical cord blood transplantation in Japan: insights from an interrupted time series analysis - Scorecard - MDSpire
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The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on umbilical cord blood transplantation in Japan: insights from an interrupted time series analysis
Clinical Scorecard: Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Japan: Findings from an Interrupted Time Series Study
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), specifically umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT)
Key Mechanisms
Immunocompromised status of HSCT patients increases vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2; pandemic disrupted donor availability and transplant activities; CBT offers cryopreserved, immediately available grafts reducing infection risk
Target Population
Patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT in Japan, including those with hematological disorders
Care Setting
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation centers and registries in Japan
Key Highlights
COVID-19 pandemic caused global declines in HSCT donations and transplantations, but Japan maintained stable HSCT activity in 2020.
Umbilical cord blood transplantation is the predominant donor source in Japan and was effectively utilized during the pandemic due to its cryopreserved availability.
Interrupted time series analysis of nationwide registry data (2011–2021) was used to assess the longitudinal impact of the pandemic on CBT usage.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Use comprehensive HSCT registries (e.g., TRUMP 2) to monitor transplantation trends and patient demographics.
Management
Prioritize infection control measures and careful patient selection during pandemics.
Advocate for cryopreservation of grafts and prioritize domestic donors to mitigate donor availability issues.
Utilize umbilical cord blood as an alternative donor source in emergencies due to its immediate availability and lower infection risk.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Conduct interrupted time series analyses and sensitivity analyses to evaluate transplantation trends over time.
Monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection trends and adapt transplantation protocols accordingly.
Risks
Immunocompromised HSCT patients are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.
Potential donor infection may lead to donor unavailability and transplant delays.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Allogeneic HSCT recipients in Japan, median age 49 years, majority male (59%).
Stable HSCT activity during the pandemic attributed to effective use of cryopreserved umbilical cord blood units, enabling urgent transplantation without SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
Clinical Best Practices
Maintain robust national HSCT registries to enable real-time data analysis and informed decision-making.
Implement strict infection control protocols and prioritize domestic donor sources during pandemics.
Leverage cryopreserved umbilical cord blood transplantation to ensure transplant continuity in emergency settings.
Use advanced statistical methods (e.g., interrupted time series, Bayesian modeling) to assess impacts of external events on transplantation trends.
