A study has shown that cancer patients diagnosed over two years ago are more likely to have a severe COVID-19 infection. The study revealed that it can be difficult to diagnose COVID-19 in cancer patients as symptoms can look similar to cancer symptoms and adverse effects of cancer treatments, this it says can result in a delayed or missed covid-19 diagnosis that could lead to severe infection or higher death rates.
The study which was carried out by researchers at the King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, examined the relationship between cancer and COVID-19. The study warned that cancer patients of Asian ethnicity or those receiving palliative treatment for cancer are also at a higher risk of death from covid-19.
According to Dr. Mieke Van Hemelrijck of King’s College London, the expanded studies armed with detailed information on covid-19 safety measures and oncological care are needed to explore the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer in terms of clinical outcomes. He said this would inform oncological care during the outbreak and potential future pandemics.
“Large studies with detailed information on COVID-19 safety measures and oncological care are urgently warranted to explore the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer in terms of clinical outcomes, so as to inform oncological care during this outbreak and potential future pandemics. Our findings provide a first insight into possible effects of cancer and its treatments on COVID-19 outcomes,” he said.
The study analysed the outcomes of 156 cancer patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis between 29 February and 12 May 2020. The study stated further, “82% of patients had presented with mild or moderate COVID-19 infection and 18% with severe disease at Guy’s Cancer Centre, at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London. Advanced statistical methods were employed to identify which demographic and/or clinical characteristics were associated with COVID-19 severity or death.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Saoirse Dolly, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital, said, “We report the first large UK single Centre analysis. Over 11 weeks, 1507 cancer patients were PCR tested for COVID-19. 156 (10%) were positive for COVID-19 infection and 18% developed severe infection and 34 patients had sadly died (22%). Age, gender, ethnicity or cancer treatments were not associated with severity of COVID-19 infection. With median of 37 days follow-up, Asian ethnicity, being on palliative treatment or having cancer for more than 2 years was positively associated with COVID-19 related death.
“This real-world observation provides valuable insights into our cancer patients during the COVID pandemic. The data needs to be validated in larger series with longer follow-up of patients to provide more definitive guidance on the management of oncology patients through the COVID-19 outbreak,” she said.
