Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH; Caroline Chiles, MD; Paul M. Cinciripini, PhD; Kristie L. Foley, PhD; Lisa M. Fucito, PhD; Jennifer S. Haas, MD; Anne M. Joseph, MD; Jamie S. Ostroff, PhD; Nancy A. Rigotti, MD; Donna R. Shelley, MD; Kathryn L. Taylor, PhD; Steven B. Zeliadt, PhD, MPH; Benjamin A. Toll, PhD; and On behalf of the Smoking Cessation at Lung Examination (SCALE) Research Group
A. Wardley, J.-L. Canon, L. Elsten, C. Peña Murillo, T. Badovinac Crnjevic, J. Fredriksson & M. Piccart.
The long-term physiological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus) infection are not known. The ability of COVID-19 to cause chronic illness, sarcopenia, and physical deconditioning may be underestimated and go beyond the anticipated respiratory sequelae. Myalgia, lethargy, and anorexia are common symptoms even in mild to moderate cases and have the potential to exacerbate frailty. How this impacts on risk-stratification for patients requiring surgery for time-critical conditions, such as malignancy,
requires further urgent investigation.
Tim Cooksley, Carme Font, Florian Scotte, Carmen Escalante, Leslie Johnson, Ronald Anderson, Bernardo Rapoport
Patients with cancer, both active and previously treated, may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 compared to the general population (Dai et al., 2020; Bakouny et al., 2020; Westblade et al., 2020). Oncologists and health care systems have adapted the delivery of cancer care to mitigate the increased risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19
among oncology patients (U¨ r€un et al., 2020). However, the ways in which the pandemic has incited changes in multidisciplinary cancer care remain poorly defined with minimal prospective data. In this multicenter, prospective cohort study of 2,365 outpatients receiving cancer care during the pandemic, we detail significant disruptions to routine cancer care and racial disparities in care disruption and COVID-19 outcomes.
Patients with cancer are at high risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19. The pandemic has altered the routine for oncology patients. Their lives depend on their ability to receive medical care, but every visit to a health-care facility exposes them to the risk of contracting the virus; therefore, concerns about getting infected might interfere with their continuity of care. Does oncology treatment outweigh the risk of infection? The psychological pressure of uncertainty for patients with cancer is particularly high. In this difficult phase, these patients need guidance and support.
Leisman DE, Ronner L, Pinotti R, Taylor MD, Sinha P, Calfee CS, Hirayama AV, Mastroiani F, Turtle CJ, Harhay MO, Legrand M, Deutschman CS.
Lancet Respir Med. 2020 Oct 16:S2213-2600(20)30404-5. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30404-5. Online ahead of print.
Malek AE, Raad II, Jabbour E.
Lancet. 2020 Oct 10;396(10257):1066-1067. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32070-5.
Cancer Cell. 2020 Nov 9;38(5):629-646. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.09.018. Epub 2020 Oct 1.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected cancer care worldwide. In the Netherlands, a lockdown was introduced on March 23, 2020. Planned cancer surgical procedures and systemic treatmentswere delayed or stopped. The Netherlands Cancer Registry reported a 25% decrease in the absolute number of cancer diagnoses. Furthermore, to prevent the potential risk of an infection, patients with cancer were advised to not visit the hospital unless strictly needed.