ABSTRACT
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients. Methods: Ninety cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with antiblastics were recruited from a tertiary medical center and completed a battery of standardized questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, peritraumatic stress, and quality of life before and during the pandemic. Results: Quality of life worsened significantly during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. Anxiety and depression levels also increased significantly during the pandemic. COVID-19 peritraumatic distress significantly predicted lower quality-of-life scores during the pandemic. Conclusions: COVID-19 distress affected the overall quality of life of patients who already had lower levels of quality of life before the pandemic and who had advanced cancers. Cancer patients must receive adequate support from psychiatrists and psychologists to mitigate the psychological distress related to the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients. METHODS: Ninety cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with antiblastics were recruited from a tertiary medical center and completed a battery of standardized questionnaires to assess anxiety, depression, peritraumatic stress, and quality of life before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Quality of life worsened significantly during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period. Anxiety and depression levels also increased significantly during the pandemic. COVID-19 peritraumatic distress significantly predicted lower quality-of-life scores during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 distress affected the overall quality of life of patients who already had lower levels of quality of life before the pandemic and who had advanced cancers. Cancer patients must receive adequate support from psychiatrists and psychologists to mitigate the psychological distress related to the pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasms , Humans , Psychological Well-Being , Quality of Life , Pandemics , Anxiety , Stress, Psychological , DepressionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed the health systems worldwide. Data regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients (CPs) undergoing or candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are lacking. We depicted the practice and adaptations in the management of patients with solid tumors eligible or receiving ICIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on Campania region. METHODS: This survey (25 questions), promoted by the young section of SCITO (Società Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica) Group, was circulated among Italian young oncologists practicing in regions variously affected by the pandemic: high (group 1), medium (group 2) and low (group 3) prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. For Campania region, the physician responders were split into those working in cancer centers (CC), university hospitals (UH) and general hospitals (GH). Percentages of agreement, among High (H) versus Medium (M) and versus Low (L) group for Italy and among CC, UH and GH for Campania region, were compared by using Fisher's exact tests for dichotomous answers and χ2 test for trends relative to the questions with 3 or more options. RESULTS: This is the first Italian study to investigate the COVID-19 impact on cancer immunotherapy, unique in its type and very clear in the results. The COVID-19 pandemic seemed not to affect the standard practice in the prescription and delivery of ICIs in Italy. Telemedicine was widely used. There was high consensus to interrupt immunotherapy in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients and to adopt ICIs with longer schedule interval. The majority of the responders tended not to delay the start of ICIs; there were no changes in supportive treatments, but some of the physicians opted for delaying surgeries (if part of patients' planned treatment approach). The results from responders in Campania did not differ significantly from the national ones. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the efforts of Italian oncologists to maintain high standards of care for CPs treated with ICIs, regardless the regional prevalence of COVID-19, suggesting the adoption of similar solutions. Research on patients treated with ICIs and experiencing COVID-19 will clarify the safety profile to continue the treatments, thus informing on the most appropriate clinical conducts.