An Assessment of Distress Levels of Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Treatment and Surveillance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Albano, Denise; Feraca, Melissa; Nemesure, Barbara

doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.10.020

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The application of screening protocols by telephone is a valid strategy for identifying cancer patients that are in severe mental distress. This can help to track patients at risk and direct support measures that reduce the intensity of symptoms and suffering ( 20 ). Recently, a panel of psychiatrists from 15 countries developed a protocol for providing mental health care during the pandemic.…”

Section: Perspectives Of Mental Health Care Of Cancer Patients Duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the pandemic, cancer patients may be experiencing an intensification of psychological distress ( 19 ). There is evidence showing that the rate of cancer patients in need of mental health attention has increased in this period ( 20 ). Despite this, it is observed that access to psychological and psychiatric treatment in this population can be impaired during the pandemic ( 16 , 19 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Sum of Fears in Cancer Patients Inside the Context of the COVID-19

et al. 2021

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The pandemic resulting from COVID-19 has led to the collapse of the health system in dozens of countries. Parallel to clinical risk, the appearance or intensification of psychiatric symptoms has also been documented. The identification of groups at risk is essential for the establishment of preventive and therapeutic strategies. Cancer patients appear to be especially vulnerable both from a clinical and psychiatric perspective. Problems related to contamination and the cancer treatments themselves are intertwined, causing a sum of patients' fears to arise, which can cause mental effects. This study aims to review and investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of cancer patients and indicate possible support strategies.

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Section: Perspectives Of Mental Health Care Of Cancer Patients Duringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Sum of Fears in Cancer Patients Inside the Context of the COVID-19

et al. 2021

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“…Despite the widespread notion that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated distress symptoms in patients with cancer, 13 data are limited for patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing HSCT who have well-documented heightened psychological distress, fatigue, and impaired QOL irrespective of a pandemic. 14 Accordingly, we aimed to assess the association of the COVID-19 pandemic with distress, fatigue, and QOL in the HSCT population quantitativelly and qualitatively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distress in a Pandemic: Association of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic with Distress and Quality of Life in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Amonoo

Topping

Clay

et al. 2021

Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

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Background The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically disrupted cancer care, potentially exacerbating patients’ distress levels. Patients undergoing HSCT may be especially vulnerable to this pandemic stress. However, the associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with distress, fatigue, and QOL are not well understood in this population. Method In a cross-sectional analysis of data from 205 patients undergoing HSCT enrolled in a supportive care trial, we compared baseline pre-HSCT distress (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) symptoms, fatigue, and QOL between enrollees pre- (i.e., 03/2019-01/2020) and during (i.e., 03/2020-01/2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. We used linear regression models adjusting for sociodemographics and cancer diagnosis to examine the associations between enrollment period and patient-reported outcomes. We used semi-structured qualitative interviews in 20 allogeneic HSCT recipients who were ≥3-months post-HSCT to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their recovery post-HSCT. Results Prior to COVID-19, 124 participants enrolled, while 81 participants enrolled during the pandemic. The cohorts had similar baseline demographics and disease risk factors. In multivariate regression models, enrollment during COVID-19 was not associated with pre-HSCT symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, fatigue, or QOL impairment. COVID-19-era participants reported themes of negative (e.g., increased isolation) and positive (e.g., engagement with meaningful activities) implications of the pandemic on HSCT recovery. Conclusions We found no differences in pre-HSCT distress, fatigue or QOL in patients undergoing HSCT prior to or during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in early recovery post-HSCT, however, report both negative and positive implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives.

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“…The study reported 49.5% patients with anxiety responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (Ahn et al, 2020). Albano et al (2020) assessed the distress levels in lung cancer patients. Of the 441 patients, 47% showed anxiety scores of indicating a requirement for counseling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the 441 patients, 47% showed anxiety scores of indicating a requirement for counseling. The most commonly reported reasons for distress were fear of contracting the virus, delayed testing and isolation (Albano et al, 2020). Chia et al (2021) from Singapore, identified five themes in patients which were heightened sense of threat, impact on healthcare experience, responsibility falling on oneself, striving for normalcy and sense of safety and trust.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is RAS the Link Between COVID-19 and Increased Stress in Head and Neck Cancer Patients?

Iftikhar

Islam

Shepherd

et al. 2021

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

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The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a largely unexplained outbreak of pneumonia cases, in Wuhan City, China and rapidly spread across the world. By 11th March 2020, WHO declared it as a global pandemic. The resulting restrictions, to contain its spread, demanded a momentous change in the lifestyle of the general population as well as cancer patients. This augmented negative effects on the mental health of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), who already battle with the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, gains entry through the Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is a component of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS). RAS has been shown to influence cancer and stress such that it can have progressive and suppressive effects on both. This review provides an overview of SARS-CoV2, looks at how the RAS provides a mechanistic link between stress, cancer and COVID-19 and the probable activation of the RAS axis that increase stress (anxiogenic) and tumor progression (tumorigenic), when ACE2 is hijacked by SARS-CoV2. The mental health crises brought about by this pandemic have been highlighted in many studies. The emerging links between cancer and stress make it more important than ever before to assess the stress burden of cancer patients and expand the strategies for its management.

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An Assessment of Distress Levels of Patients Undergoing Lung Cancer Treatment and Surveillance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 19 publications

References 15 publications

The Sum of Fears in Cancer Patients Inside the Context of the COVID-19

The Sum of Fears in Cancer Patients Inside the Context of the COVID-19

Distress in a Pandemic: Association of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic with Distress and Quality of Life in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Is RAS the Link Between COVID-19 and Increased Stress in Head and Neck Cancer Patients?

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