Risk of COVID-19 in oncohematological patients.

ABSTRACT

As of April 23, 2020, the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has affected 2,544,792 people, causing 175,694 deaths worldwide. The global scientific community has turned its attention to the impact of the new virus, which has become a major challenge for healthcare systems in many countries. Oncology patients have been considered of high risk within the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Oncology patients are especially vulnerable to infection due to the underlying disease and the type of therapy received. In general, the epidemiologic behavior of community-acquired respiratory viruses among oncology patients resembles that of the general population. Although, at present, there is limited data regarding COVID-19 and solid tumors, oncology patients seem to carry a higher risk of developing severe events. Yet, among patients harboring hematological diseases we have not observed an increase in COVID 19 infections.