scholarly journals 1418. Clinical Characteristics of Vertebral Osteomyelitis in Cancer Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S516-S517
Author(s):  
Kazuaki Fukushima ◽  
Masao Horiuchi ◽  
Noritaka Sekiya
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Vertebral Osteomyelitis ◽  
Lesion Site ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Background Vertebral osteomyelitis (VOM) is an infection of vertebrae or intervertebral disc and associated with high mortality, decreased functional status, prolonged antibiotic use and recurrent infection. Although most of the patients with VOM often embody immunodeficiency or other comorbidities, characteristics of VOM in cancer patients remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to describe clinical profile, underlying disease, lesion site, pathogen, comorbidities, treatment, and outcome in patients with cancer. Methods This study was a retrospective observational study in a tertiary care cancer hospital with 801 beds. All patients with VOM were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging from July 2004 to March 2019. Culture-confirmed VOM was defined when causative pathogens were identified from the lesion site including vertebra, intervertebral disc, paravertebral or epidural abscess or when the result of blood culture was positive with compatible clinical symptoms. Data including patient characteristics, underlying diseases, lesion sites, type of infection, entry site of infection, results of bacterial culture, treatment, and outcome were collected by electronic medical records. We analyzed data of patients with culture-confirmed VOM between patients with cancer (C-VOM) and patients without cancer (NC-VOM). Death or re-treatment was the primary outcome. Statistical analysis was performed by STATA Version 15. Results Total number of patients diagnosed with VOM was 101, of which culture-confirmed VOM was 61 (C-VOM: 30 and NC-VOM: 31). Age, lesion sites, pathogen, or comorbidities were not significantly different between two groups (table). On the other hand, the rate of contiguous infection in C-VOM was significantly higher than NC-VOM (20.0 % vs. 0.0 %; P = 0.01). Univariate cox proportional hazard model revealed that cancer was risk of death or re-treatment (HR:3.14, 95% CI:1.07–9.24). Conclusion Poor prognosis and contiguous infection from adjacent infection sites should be concerned cancer patients with culture-confirmed VOM. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Adverse reactions of targeted therapy in cancer patients: a retrospective study of hospital medical data in China

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruofei Du ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Lixia Ma ◽  
Leon M. Larcher ◽  
Han Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Target Therapy ◽  
Skin Damage ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background The adverse reactions (ADRs) of targeted therapy were closely associated with treatment response, clinical outcome, quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer. However, few studies presented the correlation between ADRs of targeted therapy and treatment effects among cancer patients. This study was to explore the characteristics of ADRs with targeted therapy and the prognosis of cancer patients based on the clinical data. Methods A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted within an ADR data set including 2703 patients with targeted therapy from three Henan medical centers of China between January 2018 and December 2019. The significance was evaluated with chi-square test between groups with or without ADRs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression with backward stepwise method were applied to assess the difference of pathological characteristics in patients with cancer. Using the univariate Cox regression method, the actuarial probability of overall survival was performed to compare the clinical outcomes between these two groups. Results A total of 485 patients were enrolled in this study. Of all patients, 61.0% (n = 296) occurred ADRs including skin damage, fatigue, mucosal damage, hypertension and gastrointestinal discomfort as the top 5 complications during the target therapy. And 62.1% of ADRs were mild to moderate, more than half of the ADRs occurred within one month, 68.6% ADRs lasted more than one month. Older patients (P = 0.022) and patients with lower education level (P = 0.036), more than 2 comorbidities (P = 0.021), longer medication time (P = 0.022), drug combination (P = 0.033) and intravenous administration (P = 0.019) were more likely to have ADRs. Those with ADRs were more likely to stop taking (P = 0.000), change (P = 0.000), adjust (P = 0.000), or not take the medicine on time (P = 0.000). The number of patients with recurrence (P = 0.000) and metastasis (P = 0.006) were statistically significant difference between ADRs and non-ADRs group. And the patients were significantly poor prognosis in ADRs groups compared with non-ADRs group. Conclusion The high incidence of ADRs would affect the treatment and prognosis of patients with cancer. We should pay more attention to these ADRs and develop effective management strategies.

scholarly journals Low Vitamin C Status in Patients with Cancer Is Associated with Patient and Tumor Characteristics

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca White ◽  
Maria Nonis ◽  
John F. Pearson ◽  
Eleanor Burgess ◽  
Helen R. Morrin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Tumor Characteristics ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Plasma Ascorbate ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Low Levels

Vitamin C (ascorbate) acts as an antioxidant and enzyme cofactor, and plays a vital role in human health. Vitamin C status can be affected by illness, with low levels being associated with disease due to accelerated turnover. However, robust data on the ascorbate status of patients with cancer are sparse. This study aimed to accurately measure ascorbate concentrations in plasma from patients with cancer, and determine associations with patient or tumor characteristics. We recruited 150 fasting patients with cancer (of 199 total recruited) from two cohorts, either prior to cancer surgery or during cancer chemo- or immunotherapy. A significant number of patients with cancer had inadequate plasma ascorbate concentrations. Low plasma status was more prevalent in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Ascorbate status was higher in women than in men, and exercising patients had higher levels than sedentary patients. Our study may prompt increased vigilance of ascorbate status in cancer patients.

Oncology consults in admitted cancer patients: The ways to reduce length of stay.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13516-e13516
Author(s):  
Bohdan Baralo ◽  
Muhammad Hanif ◽  
Archen Krupadev ◽  
Sabah Iqbal ◽  
Navyamani Kagita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Charlson Score ◽  
Primary Malignancy ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Significant Difference

e13516 Background: The cancer patients, while being admitted to the hospital often have an oncologist consult (OC) through the admission. The goal of the study is to assess, whether OC impact the length of stay (LOS) and to define the group of cancer patients in whom omitting the OC can decrease LOS. Methods: We reviewed 415 admissions of cancer patients from 1/1/2018 to 11/30/2020 to the both campuses of Mercy Catholic Medical Center. We included patients who are 18 years or older with confirmed malignancy. We excluded COVID positive, patients who died during admission, were transferred to tertiary care institutions, or were recommended hospice care, but decided to continue treatment despite poor prognosis. Patient with hematologic disorders were excluded as well. The LOS of stay in cancer patients with and without OC will be compared using two tailed unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney test ( < 20 admissions in each group, or one of the groups had a largely skewed data). Sub-analysis will be done accounting for Charlson score, spread of the disease and reason of admission (cancer vs non-cancer related). Statistical software Prism 9 will be used for analysis. Results: 290 admissions were selected using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Throughout all admission 234 admission had OC and mean LOS was 4.86 day compare to 4.23 in 56 patients, who did not have OC. Patients with non-cancer related (non-CR) admissions who had Charlson score ≤6 and no OC had shorter LOS (13 admission with median LOS 3 days) compared to those who had OC (11 admissions with LOS 7days), p 0.0462. Also, patient with non-CR admission and localized cancer tend have shorter LOS when no OC involved (15 admission with median LOS 6 days) compare to OC (16 admissions with median LOS 2.5 days), p 0.0365. No other significant difference in LOS were observed (Table). Conclusions: The cancer patients admitted for the reasons not related to their primary malignancy and who have either localized disease or Charlson score < 6 have shorter length of stay when OC not done. The limitation of the current study is the small number of patients in analysis subgroups, as well as fact that patients who had OC may have more severe disease during admission, despite the fact that patient had same extend of disease and comorbidities. Study with larger number of admissions may be necessary to confirm findings of this study.[Table: see text]

Gene Expression Patterns Identify Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Ovarian Cancer Who Are at Increased Risk for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1470-1470
Author(s):  
Veshana S. Ramiah ◽  
Anil Potti ◽  
Rebecca Peterson ◽  
David Harpole ◽  
Andrew Berchuck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Thrombotic Risk ◽  
Gene Set ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Diagnosis Of Cancer ◽  
Discriminator Gene

Abstract Background: VTE is the leading cause of death in patients with cancer. The 1-year survival rate in patients diagnosed with cancer at time of VTE is 12% compared to 36% in cancer patients without thrombosis. Cancer patients who develop VTE have higher mortality during hospitalization and during surgery. VTE in cancer patients portends a poorer prognosis and may indicate a more aggressive phenotype. There are, as yet, no clinical or laboratory parameters that have clinical utility in identifying this important group of patients with cancer who are at risk for developing VTE. Methods: We explored whether gene expression profiling could define phenotype-specific metagenes (aggregate patterns of gene expression) that distinguish cancer patients with and without VTE. The medical history of 95 patients with NSCLC and 37 patients with ovarian cancer was reviewed to identify patients with VTE after the initial diagnosis of cancer but not within 6 weeks of surgery. Separate sets of controls with NSCLC and ovarian cancer, respectively, were identified from the same groups, matched by age, gender and clinical stage, but without VTE for at least 2 years following the diagnosis of cancer. RNA was extracted and gene array data obtained using Affymetrix U133 GeneChips. Gene expression data was analyzed using binary regression methodologies. Results: 13/95 (13.5%) patients with NSCLC and 6/37 (16%) with ovarian cancer had VTE and met inclusion criteria. Using the metagene approach, a discriminator gene set (n=50) that differentiated patients with NSCLC and VTE from patients with NSCLC without VTE was identified. A separate discriminator gene set was identified for the ovarian cancer group. A leave-one-out cross validation performed to validate the reliability of the discriminator metagene set was 85% accurate in identifying patients with NSCLC and VTE. Similar analysis for the ovarian cancer patients was limited by the small number of patients identified. Significant biological differences were seen between the comparison groups in the NSCLC subset, including genes such as P53, VEGFC, E2F4, TFPI and EPHB2. Expression differences in the ovarian subset similarly included P53, but also included genes not seen in the NSCLC group, such as H-ras, Tissue factor and Factor X. Conclusions: Our data suggests that a genomic approach can identify patients with cancer at risk for VTE. In addition, these results also suggest that different tumor types might possess unique expression signatures associated with increased thrombotic risk.

scholarly journals TO STUDY THE THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT, DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS AND CONCOMITANT USE OF DRUGSIN PATIENTS WITH CANCER

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Pramila P. ◽  
Anju Abraham ◽  
Sunita Pawar ◽  
Vibha Bafna ◽  
Monika S Bansal
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Drug Related Problems ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Evaluation Of Data

Objective: To study the prescribing patterns of chemotherapeutic drugs, concomitant drugs and to determine the drug-related problems in cancer patients.Methods: A prospective and retrospective observational study was conducted over a period of 6 mo in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Pune after ethical approval and informed consent. Patients were then interviewed for patient information like demographics, treatment, and associated drug related problems using specially designed proforma and then required data was introduced in Microsoft excel spreadsheets.Results: Out of 60 patients 50 were enrolled in this study during which 9 different sites of cancer were examined. The maximum number of patients with cancer resides in the age group of 51-60 y (32%) and more common in females in 27 (54%). The most prevalent risk factor and co-morbidity encountered were tobacco chewing 13 (26%) and hypertension 8 (16%), respectively. On the further evaluation of data, the findings suggested that the majority of patients were prescribed with an alkylating group of anti-neoplastic agents, paclitaxel+platinum-based compound regimen, and the drug paclitaxel. On screening, 167 drug interactions were observed, of these most of the interactions were in the moderate category. The most common organ system affected was gastrointestinal system 135 (30.80%) whereas the prevalent toxicity was hyperuricemia. Polypharmacy was not observed, whereas antacid (ranitidine) was frequently prescribed during hospitalisation and discharge.Conclusion: This study has highlighted certain facts and drawbacks in medication-related care which can be addressed by conducting future studies in cancer care in order to provide patient-specific outcomes.

Hypercoagulabilty, venous thromboembolism, and death in patients with cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (04) ◽  
pp. 817-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Posch ◽  
Julia Riedl ◽  
Eva-Maria Reitter ◽  
Alexandra Kaider ◽  
Christoph Zielinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Independent Risk Factor ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
One Year ◽  
After Cancer ◽  
D Dimer

SummaryVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether multi-state modelling may be a useful quantitative approach to dissect the complex epidemiological relationship between hypercoagulability, VTE, and death in cancer patients. We implemented a three-state/three-transition unidirectional illness-death model of cancer-associated VTE in data of 1,685 cancer patients included in a prospective cohort study, the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study (CATS). During the two-year follow-up period, 145 (8.6%) patients developed VTE, 79 (54.5%) died after developing VTE, and 647 (38.4%) died without developing VTE, respectively. VTE events during follow-up were associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of death (Transition Hazard ratio (HR)=2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.36-3.77, p< 0.001). This observation was independent of cancer stage. VTE events that occurred later during follow-up exerted a stronger impact on the risk of death than VTE events that occurred at earlier time points (HR for VTE occurrence one year after baseline vs at baseline=2.30, 95% CI: 1.28-4.15, p=0.005). Elevated baseline D-dimer levels emerged as a VTE-independent risk factor for mortality (HR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.05-1.08, p< 0.001), and also predicted mortality risk in patients who developed VTE. A higher Khorana Score predicted both the risk for VTE and death, but did not predict mortality after cancer-associated VTE. In conclusion, multi-state modeling represents a very potent approach to time-to-VTE cohort data in the cancer population, and should be used for both observational and interventional studies on cancer-associated VTE.

scholarly journals Cancer Scenario in Kashmir—A Study Conducted in a Tertiary Care Center, Srinagar, Kashmir, India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dar Abdul Waheed ◽  
Saba Sumaira ◽  
Lone Mushtaq Ahmad ◽  
Qurat Ul Ain ◽  
Sanaullah Kuchay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Stomach Cancer ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Cancer Control ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Anatomical Site ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Common Cancer

Abstract Background Cancer can have profound social and economic consequences for the people in India, often leading to family impoverishment and societal inequity. Reported age-adjusted incidence rates for cancer are still quite low in the demographically young country. Slightly more than 1 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in a population of 1.2 billion. It accounts for about 23 and 7% deaths in United States and India, respectively. The world's population is expected to be 7.5 billion by 2020 and approximations predict that about 15.0 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed, with deaths of about 12.0 million cancer patients. Early detection of cancers is a challenging task because clinical symptoms develop slowly. Objective The aim of the present study was to analyze the cancer scenario in the Kashmir valley. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study. So, all patients were included who had histopathologically confirmed neoplasm registered at Regional Cancer Centre of Government Medical College Srinagar, Kashmir between 2015 and 2018. All the patient characteristics including age, sex, and anatomical site of the disease were studied in detail. Results The number of cancer patients in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 were 230, 239, 391, and 511, respectively, with a combined total of 1,371. Thus, it is clear from these figures that the number of cancer cases has increased gradually with time. Stomach cancer is the most common cancer in the Kashmir territory. In males the most common cancer is stomach cancer with 175 (12.8%) reported cases and in females the most common cancer is breast cancer with 151 (11%) reported cases. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Conclusion A careful reading the reported cancer cases indicates an increased number of cancer patients every year in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Kashmir is a growing state in India playing a crucial role in the development of India and, hence, it needs special attention on this issue. A multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment is essential and this has to be made available at all regional cancer centers. Cancer control is an area in which we need participation from all sectors of the society.

scholarly journals PNEUMONIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (05) ◽  
pp. 744-748
Author(s):  
Anwar Hussain Abbasi ◽  
Shahab Abid ◽  
Shahab Abid
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Chronic Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Medical Department ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Number Of Patients

Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability globally, with anexpected rise in number of patients with ageing and economic transition of developing countries.Pneumonia is one of the major complications after stroke. Stroke associated pneumoniaincreases risk of death by three fold and is the major cause of morbidity and mortality afterthe stroke. Objective: To determine the frequency and factors leading to stroke associatedpneumonia in all acute stroke patients admitted at a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Caseseries. Setting: Medical Department, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi. Period:six months and extended from 1st July 2015 to 31st December 2015. Material and methods:All adult patients (age 14 years and above) admitted through emergency room in the medicalward of Aga khan university hospital Karachi with the diagnosis of acute stroke on the basis ofMRI findings were enrolled after taking informed consent through Non purposive consecutivesampling technique. Demographic data like age and sex were recorded. Diagnosis of strokeassociated pneumonia was made on basis of CDC criteria for pneumonia. All analyses wasconducted by using the Statistical package for social science SPSS (Release 19.0, standardversion, copyright © SPSS; 1989-02). Results: A total of 157 patients admitted with a mean ageof the inducted patients were 61.75 ± 13.91 years. According to this stratification, 23 patients(14.65%) were aged less than 45 years and remaining 134 subjects (85.35%) were above theage of 45 years among them 110 were males (70.1 %) and 47 were females (29.9 %). Strokeassociated pneumonia was found in 33 (21%) out of 157 patients. Out of 33 patients havingstroke associated pneumonia; 14 (42.4%) patients had Diabetes mellitus. Out of 33 patientshaving stroke associated pneumonia; 28 (84.8%) patients had hypertension. Out of 33 patientshaving stroke associated pneumonia; 2 (6%) had COPD. Out of 33 patients having strokeassociated pneumonia; 2(6%) had Chronic Atrial Fibrillation. Out of 33 patients having strokeassociated pneumonia; 21 (63.6%) patients had impaired swallowing. Conclusion: Strokeassociated pneumonia is the common and serious complication after stroke. All the effortsshould be taken to control various factors leading to stroke associated pneumonia like DM,hypertension, and impaired swallowing to improve stroke outcome.

Effectiveness and safety of LMWH treatment in patients with cancer diagnosed with nonhigh-risk venous thromboembolism (VTE): Results of the Turkish observational study (TREBECA).

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21656-e21656
Author(s):  
Ersin Ozaslan ◽  
Metin Ozkan ◽  
Irfan Cicin ◽  
Mustafa Benekli ◽  
Murat Kocer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Primary Endpoints ◽  
Number Of Patients

e21656 Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the most important causes of death in cancer patients, with VTE risk being 4-7 times higher among these patients compared to normal population. TREBECA is an observational study on cancer outpatients with low risk VTE treated with LMWH. Methods: Patients were treated by medical oncologists in Turkey at 15 sites, where they were enrolled and followed-up for a period of 12 months. Each center used their own treatment protocol. Primary endpoints were efficacy and the time to a change inVTE status (dissolution of thrombosis). The doses of LMWHs have been calculated according to patients’ body weights based on the dosage scheme and administered subcutaneously once or twice daily. Results: Data for 250 patients who met the study inclusion criteria were examined and analyzed. Of the included patients; 239 patients (95.6%) completed their Day 15 visit, 176 (70.4%) completed their Month 3 visit, 130 (52.0%) completed their Month 6 visit, and 91 (36.4%) completed the entire study. The mean age of the patients was 60.2 ± 13.7, while 53.2% (n = 133) of the patients were women. Colorectal (21.2%), lung (16.8%) and breast (14.8%) cancers were the most common forms of cancer. One hundred thirty-three patients were treated with enoxaparin, 112 patients were treated with bemiparin and 5 patients were treated with tinzaparin. Bemiparin resulted thrombosis resolution in more patients than enoxaparin, during day 15, month 3 and month 6 visits (table 1; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The observation that bemiparin is more effective in resolution of thrombosis was noteworthy. Thrombosis could not be effectively treated within the first 15 days in a significant number of patients, but could effectively be treated in most patients by Month 3. We can conclude that a treatment of at least 3 months is appropriate for cancer patients, even among those who are at low risk for venous thromboembolism. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Outcomes of the 2019 novel coronavirus in patients with or without a history of cancer: a multi-centre North London experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175883592095680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nalinie Joharatnam-Hogan ◽  
Daniel Hochhauser ◽  
Kai-Keen Shiu ◽  
Hannah Rush ◽  
Valerie Crolley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Composite Endpoint ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
History Of Cancer ◽  
North London

Background: This study aims to compare the outcomes of COVID-19-positive disease in patients with a history of cancer to those without. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data and outcomes of COVID-19 positive cancer patients treated consecutively in five North London hospitals (cohort A). Outcomes recorded included time interval between most recent anti-cancer treatment and admission, severe outcome [a composite endpoint of intensive care unit (ITU) admission, ventilation and/or death] and mortality. Outcomes were compared with consecutively admitted COVID-19 positive patients, without a history of cancer (cohort B), treated at the primary centre during the same time period (1 March–30 April 2020). Patients were matched for age, gender and comorbidity. Results: The median age in both cohorts was 74 years, with 67% male, and comprised of 30 patients with cancer, and 90 without (1:3 ratio). For cohort B, 579 patients without a history of cancer and consecutively admitted were screened from the primary London hospital, 105 were COVID-19 positive and 90 were matched and included. Excluding cancer, both cohorts had a median of two comorbidities. The odds ratio (OR) for mortality, comparing patients with cancer to those without, was 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–2.5], and severe outcome (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.4–2.0) suggesting no increased risk of death or a severe outcome in patients with cancer. Cancer patients who received systemic treatment within 28 days had an OR for mortality of 4.05 (95% CI 0.68–23.95), p = 0.12. On presentation anaemia, hypokalaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and hypoproteinaemia were identified predominantly in cohort A. Median duration of admission was 8 days for cancer patients and 7 days for non-cancer. Conclusion: A diagnosis of cancer does not appear to increase the risk of death or a severe outcome in COVID-19 patients with cancer compared with those without cancer. If a second spike of virus strikes, rational decision making is required to ensure optimal cancer care.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document