Risk of COVID-19 death for people with a pre-existing cancer diagnosis prior to COVID-19-vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

While previous reviews found a positive association between pre-existing cancer diagnosis and COVID-19-related death, most early studies did not distinguish long-term cancer survivors from those recently diagnosed/treated, nor adjust for important confounders including age. We aimed to consolidate higher-quality evidence on risk of COVID-19-related death for people with recent/active cancer (compared to people without) in the pre-COVID-19-vaccination period. We searched the WHO COVID-19 Global Research Database (20 December 2021), and Medline and Embase (10 May 2023). We included studies adjusting for age and sex, and providing details of cancer status. Risk-of-bias assessment was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled adjusted odds or risk ratios (aORs, aRRs) or hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using generic inverse-variance random-effects models. Random-effects meta-regressions were used to assess associations between effect estimates and time since cancer diagnosis/treatment. Of 23 773 unique title/abstract records, 39 studies were eligible for inclusion (2 low, 17 moderate, 20 high risk of bias). Risk of COVID-19-related death was higher for people with active or recently diagnosed/treated cancer (general population: aOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.36-1.61, I2 = 0; people with COVID-19: aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41-1.77, I2 = 0.58; inpatients with COVID-19: aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.34-2.06, I2 = 0.98). Risks were more elevated for lung (general population: aOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.4-4.7) and hematological cancers (general population: aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.68-2.68, I2 = 0.43), and for metastatic cancers. Meta-regression suggested risk of COVID-19-related death decreased with time since diagnosis/treatment, for example, for any/solid cancers, fitted aOR = 1.55 (95% CI: 1.37-1.75) at 1 year and aOR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80-1.20) at 5 years post-cancer diagnosis/treatment. In conclusion, before COVID-19-vaccination, risk of COVID-19-related death was higher for people with recent cancer, with risk depending on cancer type and time since diagnosis/treatment.

Minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repair: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Distal biceps tendon repairs are commonly performed using open techniques. A minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repair technique using a speculum and hooded endoscope was developed to improve visualization, reduce soft-tissue dissection, and minimize complications. This paper describes the technique and reports the outcomes of 75 minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repairs. METHODS: The operation reports and outcomes of 75 patients who underwent distal biceps tendon repair using this technique between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Median time to follow-up was 12 months (interquartile range [IQR], 6-56 months). Primary outcomes were function as measured by the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH) questionnaire, and rate of complications. Median DASH score was 1.7 of 100 (IQR, 0-6.8). There were 2 of 75 (2.7%) re-ruptures of the distal tendon. There were no cases of vascular injury, proximal radius fracture, or posterior interosseous nerve, median, or ulnar nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, minimally invasive distal biceps repair was safe and effective with a low rate of major complications. Recovery of function, as indicated by low DASH scores, was satisfactory, and inconvenience during recovery was minimized. Level of evidence: IV.