ABSTRACT
Background: During the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic the management and treatment of COVID-19 have been improved. However, cancer patients continue to be one of the most affected. We evaluate the mortality rate due to COVID-19 and associated risk factors in the cancer population diagnosed in our center during the first year of pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 189 cancer patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 5, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Mortality rate nd associated risk factors were studied. Results: Mortality rate: 55/189 patients. Mean age: 72 years (34-95), 125/189 male patients. Predominant histologies: lung cancer (72/189), colorectal (31/189), breast (24/189). Predominant staging: metastatic disease (113/189). Predominant cancer treatment: chemotherapy (63/189);118/189 patients were receiving any type of oncological treatment with palliative intention. Mortality was associated with male gender (45/55 vs 10/55, p=0.004), presence of comorbidities (48/55 vs 7/55, p=0.01), lung cancer (28/72 deaths with this tumor vs 27/117 with the rest, p=0.02), palliative intention cancer treatment (41/55 vs 12/55, p=0.02), older median age (76 vs 71, p = 0.02), higher median CRP (p=115.6 mg/dl vs 46 mg/dl), lower median lymphocytes (600/mm3 vs 1000/mm3 p<0.001). No specific treatment against COVID-19 significantly decreased mortality. Neither IL-6 nor ferritin were prognostic biomarkers. In multivariate analysis, male gender (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.1-5.9, p = 0.02), lung cancer (OR 2.0, CI 1.0-3.8, p = 0.03), cancer treatment with palliative intention (OR 2.4, CI 1.07-5.3, p = 0.03), higher median CRP (OR 1.0, CI 1.00-1.01, p <0.001), as well as low lymphocyte median (OR 0.5, CI 0.25-1.0, p = 0.56), continued to be evidenced as risk factors, regardless of comorbidities, staging, sex, and palliative intention cancer-specific treatment, among other variables. Conclusions: Men with lung cancer under cancer-specific treatment with palliative intention who present, at the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection with elevated CRP above 115 mg/dl and a decrease in lymphocytes below 600/mm3 have a higher risk of presenting fatal complications. Legal entity responsible for the study: Medical Oncology department, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cancer patients are one of the most affected by the current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Social inequalities influence the incidence rate of this disease, as we have seen in the high incidence in our center. In our study, we asked whether the last covid-19 treatment advances, the capacity for restructuring the health centers and their non-saturation, influences the cancer patients outcomes. Methods: Retrospective review of 189 cancer patients diagnosed in our center with COVID-19 from March 5, 2020 to February 28, 2021. Study data was collected and managed using REDCap. We compared COVID-19 diagnoses in first-wave cancer patients versus the full pandemic period until data cut-off, as well as patient characteristics and mortality rates. Results: Mortality rate: 55/189 patients during the entire pandemic period vs 40/85 patients in the first wave (p = 0.03). Median age: 72 years (34-95) vs 76 (34-94), 125/189 men in all the period vs 50/85 (p = 0.2). Most frequent histologies: lung cancer (72/189 vs 22/85, p = 0.07), colorectal (31/189 vs 19/85, p = 0.23), breast (24/189 vs 10/85, p = 0.82). Staging: 113/189 metastatic disease at diagnosis of infection vs 32/85 in first wave (p <0.001). During the 2 subsequent waves in our center, where 104 more patients have been detected, mortality has dropped significantly: from the initial 47% to 14.4% in the rest of the period (40/85 vs 15/104, p <0.001), despite having more metastatic involvement in infected patients. Conclusions: In our center, one of the worst hit by the coronavirus crisis in Spain, with a supersaturation of almost 250% in the middle of the first wave, we have verified how the knowledge of the behavior of this disease, improvements in its treatment and a multidisciplinary management in Oncology ward have led to a significant decrease in mortality, going from almost 50% in the first wave to less than 15%, despite having suffered the disease during the two subsequent waves a greater number of patients with metastatic disease. Legal entity responsible for the study: Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
Background: Currently we still have limited information on how COVID-19 infection has affected lung cancer patients. In our study, we analysed whether there are differences in terms of mortality from COVID-19 between patients diagnosed with lung cancer and the overall population within our hospital health area (320,000 people). We have also studied the most frequent characteristics of lung cancer patients who develop infection with COVID-19, and we have analysed possible factors of poor prognosis, as well as treatment outcome. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a total of 2216 patients admitted to Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor in Madrid between March 5 and May 13, 2020 to identify the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer and make a description of the characteristics of these patients, treatment outcome, risk factors for poor prognosis and mortality. We performed uni and multivariate logistic regression. Results: 22/2216 of the total number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in our hospital had lung cancer (0.99%). 12/22 lung cancer patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis died (54.5%) vs 300/2216 COVID-19 patients in our hospital (p<0.0001). Lung cancer patients who died had a median age of 72 years (range of 49-84 years). Infection with COVID-19 in lung cancer patients was more frequent in men (72.73%). 18/22 (81.81%) had locally advanced or metastatic tumours. We observed a trend towards higher mortality among patients with hypertension than among non-hypertensive patients (10/15 vs 2/7;P=0.095). We found higher mortality among patients who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) than among those who did not (4/4 vs 8/12;P=0.044). There seems to be a trend towards lower mortality among patients who received treatment with the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin than among those who did not (6/14 vs 6/8;P=0.145). Conclusions: Lung cancer patients who became infected with COVID-19 have higher mortality than the general population. It is more frequent among men and the development of ARDS results in a worse prognosis with higher mortality. Although treatment with azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine appears to be a good treatment option, we must wait until we have more data on the safety of the combination and results in larger patient series. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are no large reported series determining the outcome of cancer patients with COVID-19. We aimed to determine whether differences exist in COVID-19 related mortality between cancer patients and the general population in our hospital, and we also describe associated risk factors. Methods: We reviewed 2216 medical records of all patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 diagnosis between 5 March and 13 May 2020. Study data were collected using REDCap electronic data capture tools. We described COVID-19 cumulative incidence in cancer patients, treatment outcome, mortality and associated risk factors. Results: We detected 85/2216 cancer patients in all COVID-19 diagnoses. Mortality rate: 40/85 cancer patients vs 260/2131 patients in the general ward (P<0.001). Median age: 76 years old (34-94), 50/85 male patients. Most frequent histologies: lung cancer (22/85), colorectal cancer (19/85) and prostate cancer (15/85). Most frequent staging: metastatic disease (32/85). Only 2/85 patients were admitted to ICU. Mortality was associated with older median age (79.5 vs 73, P=0.03), high d dimer levels (1630 vs 830, P=0.03), high LDH levels (315.5 vs 224, P=0.003), bilateral pneumonia (24/42 vs 5/22 with unilateral pneumonia, P=0.02), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (12/13 vs 28/72 without ARDS, P<0.0001) and metastatic disease (20/32 metastatic vs 20/53 non-metastatic, P=0.02). Differences were maintained in multivariate analyses regarding ARDS (OR 23.7, P=0.007) and metastatic disease (OR 2.5, P=0.05). Combined treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin showed a better outcome in uni and multivariate analyses with only 21/61 dead patients (OR 0.13, P=0.005), adjusted by sex, histology, staging, ARDS and comorbidities. Conclusions: COVID-19 had significant mortality in cancer patients. High D dimer and LDH levels and ARDS development in elderly metastatic patients carry an elevated risk of death in cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19. However, only 2/85 patients were admitted to ICU and this data was decisive. Combined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin could be a good treatment option in COVID-19 cancer patients. It is a priority to create measures to avoid COVID-19 transmission in oncological patients. Legal entity responsible for the study: Medical Oncology Department, HU Infanta Leonor. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
Background: Small case series of patients with active cancer and coronavirus infection have been described since the beginning of the pandemic. The patients most affected by this infection are those with lung cancer but it also affects other types of cancer such as breast cancer. We described the characteristics of patients with breast cancer and COVID 19, their associated risk factors, treatment and evolution. Methods: We reviewed 2216 medical records of all patients admitted to hospitalization with COVID-19 diagnosis between 5 March and 13 May 2020. Study data were collected and managed using RedCap electronic data capture tools. We described breast cancer patients, associated risk factors, mortality and outcome. Results: We detected 85/2216patients cancer with a mortality rate 47% (40/85). Of all cancer patients, 11% (10/85) had breast cancer. Median age breast cancer patients was 70.5 years old (35-86). Most frecuent staging was locally advanced (50 %, 5/10) and most of them were on hormone therapy (50%, 5/10). As associated risk factors, 20% (2/10) had heart disease, 50% (5/10) had hypertension, 20 (2/10) were obese, 30% (3/10) had diabetes, 40% (4/10) had dyslipemia and only 10% (1/10) was smoker. Half the patients 50% (5/10) had bilateral pneumonia, none of them were admitted to the ICU and 20% (2/10) died. All patients were treated with the combination of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine and 40% (4/10) with lopinavir/ritonavir. Mortality was associate with high LDH levels (1529 vs. 264 U/L, p=0,0002), high PCR levels (159.15 vs. 29 mg/L, p=0.0140), ARDS (1/1 vs. 1/9 without ARDS p=0.035). A posible relation has been found with history of hypertension (2/5 vs. 0/5 without hypertension, p=0.114) and bilateral pneumonia (2/5 vs. 0/5, p= 0.114). Conclusions: COVID 19 appears to have lower mortality in breast cancer patients than in other tumor types. High LDH and PCR levels and ARDS could be related with increased risk of death. Combined treatment in these patients with azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine might be a good option. Legal entity responsible for the study: The authors. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are no large reported series determining the Covid-19 cancer patient's characteristics. We determine whether differences exist in cumulative incidence and mortality of Covid-19 infection between cancer patients and general population in Madrid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 1069 medical records of all cancer patients admitted at Oncology department between Feb 1 and April 7, 2020. We described Covid-19 cumulative incidence, treatment outcome, mortality, and associated risk factors. RESULTS: We detected 45/1069 Covid-19 diagnoses in cancer patients vs 42,450/6,662,000 in total population (p < 0.00001). Mortality rate: 19/45 cancer patients vs 5586/42,450 (p = 0.0001). Mortality was associated with older median age, adjusted by staging and histology (74 vs 63.5 years old, OR 1.06, p = 0.03). Patients who combined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin presented 3/18 deaths, regardless of age, staging, histology, cancer treatment and comorbidities (OR 0.02, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients are vulnerable to Covid-19 with an increase in complications. Combined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin is presented as a good treatment option.