COVID-19 in Cancer Patients From New York City: A Comparative Single Center Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

In this retrospective study we analyze and compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without cancer history who were infected with novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Medical records were reviewed and a comparative analysis of 53 cancer and 135 non-cancer patients with COVID-19 were summarized. Results: The median age for COVID-19 patients with and without cancer was 71.5 and 61.6 years, respectively. Patients aged 60 years and above were 86.8% and 60.7% in cancer and non-cancer groups, respectively. A high proportion of cases were seen in African Americans 73.6% (with cancer) and 75.6% (without cancer) followed by Hispanic patients. Male and female patients had a high percentage of prostate (39.3%) and breast (32%) cancer respectively. Prostate cancer (18.9%) and myeloma (11.3%) were common among solid and hematological cancers respectively. Hypertension and smoking were prevalent among cancer (83% and 41.5%) compared to non-cancer (67.4% and 9.6%) patients. The common symptoms in cancer patients were dyspnea (64.2%) followed by fever and cough (50.9%) compared to fever (68.1%) and cough (66.7%) in non-cancer patients. Cancer patients had higher levels of lactic acidosis, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase than non-cancer patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rapid clinical deterioration was seen in cancer patients who were aged 60 years and above. Higher mortality was seen in this subgroup, especially when they had associated hypertension and elevated levels of CRP and LDH.

Healthcare Disparities and Outcomes of Cancer Patients in a Community Setting from a COVID-19 Epicenter

“…There were no significant predictors for COVID diagnosis, severity, or mortality in our cohort of active cancer patients. However, there was a trend towards significance for hypertension ( p = 0.05), which has been previously demonstrated in larger case series [ 20 , 39 , 55 ]. It is clear that patients with cancer represent a heterogeneous group and particular attention to COVID patients with recent diagnosis and treatment is warranted.…”

COVID-19 in Immunocompromised Cancer Patients: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

“… 37 Another recent retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cancer patients from New York City, in which prostate and breast cancer were the most common, found that rapid clinical deterioration was seen in patients aged 60 and above. 38 Higher mortality rates were particularly seen with those patients that had hypertension and elevated lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein. 38 Age and sex were also seen to be higher risk factors for poorer prognosis in a recent larger meta-analysis of studies reporting fatalities in COVID-19 patients with cancer.…”

“… 38 Higher mortality rates were particularly seen with those patients that had hypertension and elevated lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein. 38 Age and sex were also seen to be higher risk factors for poorer prognosis in a recent larger meta-analysis of studies reporting fatalities in COVID-19 patients with cancer. 39 …”

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 prevention in cancer patients undergoing treatment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The unknown nature of the virus and the effective methods of prevention and treatment, as well as the high speed of infection spread challenged the scientists. Most of the studies have shown higher incidence and more severity of COVID-19 among cancerous patients [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”