Covid-19 and androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Populationbased studies (Covid-19 och hormonbehandling för prostatacancer. Populationsbaserade studier)

The aim of this study is to assess the association between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and risk of Covid-19 under the hypothesis that ADT inhibits/ mitigates Covid-19 through inhibition of TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease serine type 2) activity. TMPRSS2 facilitates uptake of corona virus in the lung in experimental models. In a recent small observational study, men with prostate cancer on ADT had a decreased risk of Covid-19. Based on these data, more than a dozen RCTs are planned to test if ADT inhibits/mitigates Covid-19. Thus, there is an urgent need to corroborate these early findings, given that short-term ADT may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.In PCBaSe, a population-based cohort of 700 000 men of whom 20 000 are on ADT, we will estimate incidence and outcome of Covid-19 based on positive test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in SmiNet, diagnostic codes, admission to intensive care unit, severity of critical illness, death from Covid-19 and  excess mortality per month will be compared with corresponding month in previous years for men on ADT vs. men not on ADT. We will perform the first linkage in July 2020 and then update quarterly to accumulate Covid-19 events.Our large and well-established real-world dataset based on comprehensive population-based high-quality registers provide a unique setting that an experienced team of researcher will use to rapidly assess a new pharmacological principle for prevention and treatment of Covid-19. Infektionsmedicin