Impact of the covid-19 pandemic in the healthcare of cancer patients

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has represented historical phenomenon in worldwide epidemiology. Groups with increased risk have been iden-tified, including the elderly and subjects with chronic diseases, among these, cancer. The rate of COVID-19 cases appears to be higher in patients with cancer in comparison with the general population;and they tend to exhibit a higher risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19 and complications like hospitalization, respiratory failure, and death. Multiple factors contribute to this scenario. Firstly, cancer patients are of older age in average, as well as more comorbidities. However, during the pandemic, the greatest danger for these patients is their incapacity to access health institutions and concrete services upon arrival. Various treatment protocols have been modified to avoid or delay procedures such as surgeries and chemotherapy to reduce potential risks. In parallel, some aspects of these patients’ follow-up have been superseded in order to respond to the pandemic, resulting in suboptimal care for cancer patients. This review aims to assess the essential epidemiological aspects concerning cancer and COVID-19, and their impact on the healthcare of these patients.

Promoting physical activity in patients with cardiovascular disease during the covid-19 confinement

At present, sedentary behavior and physical inactivity have been identified as some of the most important risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their prevalence has grown in recent years, mainly due to their increase in the sedentary time, with reduced participation in active transport and prolonged leisure time unrelated to physical activity (PA). Despite the wide knowl-edge on the pleiotropic benefits of PA, the degree of adher-ence to these healthier lifestyles is notoriously low in the general population. During the current pandemic of coro-navirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), various high-risk popu-lations have been recognized, such as elderly people and patients with cancer, cardiometabolic, respiratory or other chronic disorders. Although various management plans have been designed for the pandemic, their impact on this situa-tion on cardiovascular health has been overlooked. Although the quarantine measures have been effective in controlling the propagation of COVID-19, they may have significant col-lateral aspects in other areas, especially in patients with high cardiovascular risk. In this scenario, maintaining adequate PA levels has become a veritable challenge of adaptability for both, patients and medical personnel. It is essential that both parts work in ensemble to design effective strategies for each particular case, aiming to grant the protective effects of PA during this emergency period.