Experiences of Newly Diagnosed Oral Cancer Patients during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study from Pakistan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the scaling back or postponement of non-emergency hospital services, including care of cancer patients. The present qualitative study explored the experiences of newly diagnosed oral cancer patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Patients who attended the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Khyber College of Dentistry in July 2020 were selected using a maximum variation purposive sampling method. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted in Pashto, the local language of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Thematic content analysis yielded eight major themes: pain and generalised physical weakness, shock at diagnosis, psychological distress of the COVID-19 pandemic, faith and religion, double hit loss of employment, social isolation, social support from caregivers, and lack of support from health care professionals. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has a clear impact on the life experiences of newly diagnosed oral cancer patients. Distress due to delay in accessing health care and lack of support from health care providers are a matter of great concern. Appropriate interventions should be introduced to ensure psychological and social support strategies are in place for patients during interruptions of health care services.

Clinical Characteristics, Mortality and Associated risk factors in COVID-19 patients reported in ten major hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is an ongoing public health issue across the world. Several risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 have been reported. The present study aims to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics and predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in Pakistan with highest COVID-19 associated case fatality rate. METHODS: This multicentre, retrospective study was conducted in hospitalized COVID-19 patients who died or discharged alive until 1st May 2020. Data about sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and outcome were obtained from hospital records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Statistical tests were applied to determine the risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients. RESULTS: Of the total 179 patients from the 10 designated hospitals, 127 (70.9%) were discharged alive while 52 (29.1%) died in the hospital. Overall, 109 (60.9%) patients had an underlying comorbidity with hypertension being the commonest. Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed significantly higher odds of in-hospital death from COVID-19 in patients with multiple morbidities (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1, 9.1, p-value=0.03), length of hospital stay (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7, 0.9, p-value <0.001), those presenting with dyspnoea (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.1, 14.0, p-value=0.03) and oxygen saturation below 90 (OR 9.6, 95% CI: 3.1, 29.2, p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: Comorbidity, oxygen saturation and dyspnoea on arrival and length of stay in hospital (late admission) are associated with COVID-19 mortality. The demographic, clinical and lab characteristics could potentially help clinician and policy makers before potential second wave in the country.