Evaluation of COVID 19 infection in 279 cancer patients treated during a 90-day period in 2020 pandemic

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was investigation of COVID-19 disease and its outcome in cancer patients who needed treatment, in a 90-day period. Methods Cancer patient who required treatment, were evaluated for potential COVID-19 infection in a 90-day period, starting from beginning of this epidemic in Iran, January, to April 19, 2020. For treatment of solid tumor patients, if they did not have symptoms related to COVID-19, just chest X-ray was requested. If they showed COVID-19 related symptoms, high resolution CT scan of lungs was requested. For hematology cancer patients, PCR test for COVID-19 infection was requested as well. Protection measures were considered for personnel of oncology wards. Results 279 Patients were followed up in this 90-day period. No COVID-19 infection was observed in 92 cases of breast cancer, 14 cases of gastric cancer and 12 cases of pancreaticobiliary cancer. However, in 72 cases of colon cancer, 11 cases of lung cancer, 5 cases brain tumors and 12 cases ovarian cancer; 4 cases of COVID-19 were observed. In the hematology cancers group, which included 14 cases of Hodgkin's disease, 23 cases of lymphoproliferative disorder, 12 cases of acute leukemia and 12 cases of multiple myeloma; 3 cases of COVID-19 were observed. Conclusion Patients with cancer who need treatment can be treated by taking some measures. These measures include observing individual and collective protection principles in patients and health-care personnel, increasing patients' awareness particularly about self-care behavior, performing a COVID-19 test, and taking a chest X-ray, before the treatment starts

Prevalence of COVID-19 Infection in Asymptomatic Cancer Patients in a District With High Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy

“…Our data show a higher infection rate when compared with other reported studies: Fong D et al [ 13 ] reported a prevalence of 1.8% in a tertiary care hospital in northern Italy; Marschner S et al [ 14 ] reported an infection rate of 0.72% in Munich (Germany); Berghoff AS et al [ 15 ] reported a low rate of detectable SARS-CoV-2 (0.4%) in a large cohort of 1,016 consecutive cancer patients in Vienna (Austria); Yu J et al [ 16 ] reported 12 consecutive cases of COVID-19 pneumonia in 1,524 patients with cancer (0.79%) in Wuhan (China); Aznab M [ 17 ] reported three cases of COVID-19 in 279 patients (1.08%) with solid tumors and hematologic malignances in Kermanshah (Iran); Moss C et al [ 18 ] reported nine positive cases amongh 654 cancer patients (1.38%) that were swabbed for COVID-19 in London. More recently, Aschele C et al [ 19 ], in a large multi-institutional retrospective study in Italy, reported the incidence of COVID-19 among 59,989 patients undergoing active antitumor treatment, between January 15, 2020 and May 4, 2020: 406 (0.68%) developed COVID-19 and 77% required hospitalization.…”

SARS-CoV-2 mediated neuroinflammation and the impact of COVID-19 in neurological disorders

“…Hospitals have developed algorithms and flow-charts to determine the need for surgical intervention or have utilized less invasive surgical techniques to minimize the length of hospital stay [ [159] , [160] , [161] ]. Additional protocols and have been effectively implemented to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission [ 162 , 163 ].…”

Clinical Characteristics of 60 Adult Cancer Patients Experience Covid-19: A Descriptive-analytical Study

“…Most of the patients (60%) were infected with CVID-19 in the last three months of the study. While in the rst trimester of the pandemic, the number of patients with Covid-19 was only 7, due to the observance of hygienic principles and adherence to self-care education [1].…”

“…In the category of patients with hematologic malignancy, patients with acute leukemia need more attention [1,9,17]. Therefore, in this group, the rst priority should be on prevention.…”