This study included cancer patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 from three hospitals in Wuhan, China. Clinical data were collected from medical records from Jan. 13, to Feb. 26, 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to asses the risk factors in regards to severe events (i.e. a condition requiring admission to an intensive care unit, the use of mechanical ventilation, or death). 

Patients and Methods

Out of the 28 patients included in this study, 17 (60.7%) were male. The median age was 65 years, and the most frequent cancer type was lung cancer (25%). The most common clinical features were fever (82.1%), dry cough (81%), dyspnoea (50.0%), and hypoproteinaemia (low level of protein in the blood)(89.3%). More than half of the patients had severe events (53.6%), and the mortality rate was 28.6%. If the last antitumour treatment (cancer treatment) was within the past 14 days, it significantly increased the risk of developing severe events (P = 0.037). 

Results 

Cancer patients are immunocompromised and therefore more likely to suffer severe symptoms of COVID-19. It is recommended that cancer patients receiving antitumour treatments in hospitals should be screened for COVID-19 and should attempt to avoid or lower the dosage of treatments causing immunosuppression.

Conclusions on Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19-Infected Cancer Patients in Wuhan

The clinical characteristics of 28 patients with severe cases of COVID-19  (in addition to cancer) were retrospectively studied. 

- Patients and Methods
- Results
- Conclusions 

Smith College

- Hubei, China 
- Wuhan, China
- New York City, USA

Cancer in COVID-19 Patients by Geographical Location

Zhang, L., Zhu, F., Xie, L., Wang, C., Wang, J., Chen, R., . . . Zhou, M. (2020). Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients: A retrospective case study in three hospitals within Wuhan, China. Annals of Oncology, 31(7), 894-901. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2020.03.296
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923753420363833

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients: a retrospective case study in three hospitals within Wuhan, China

In a retrospective study of 205 patients with cancer and confirmed COVID-19 infection in Hubei, China, it was found that patients were more likely to experience severe symptoms and the case-fatality rate was higher for these patients (20%) compared to patients with cancer in Wuhan, China (18%) and the general population (8%). Males and patients who had underwent chemotherapy during the 4-week period prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms were at an increased risk of mortality. Patients with hematological cancer had worse outcomes than those with solid tumors, which may have been partially attributed to the greater percentage of patients with hematological cancer that received chemotherapy within 4 weeks before showing symptoms (a potential risk factor) than the other patients. 

Cancer in COVID-19 Patients in Hubei, China 

In a retrospective study, 218 COVID-19 patients with cancer were identified. Among these patients, 75% were diagnosed with solid tumors, while the other 25% had hematologic malignancies. This cohort was 58% male and 42% female and predominantly consisted of adult patients, with a median age of 69 years. At the time of analysis, 28% of the patients had died from complications arising from coronavirus.

COVID-19 Patients with Cancer In New York City

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-Infected Cancer Patients: Study in Wuhan, China

In Wuhan, China, the first COVID-19 patient with MM was successfully treated with tocilizumab. MM is a cancer of plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells that generate antibodies to help the body fight infections. Several studies have shown that tocilizumab, a drug that inhibits Interleukin-6 (IL-6), is able to effectively calm the strong inflammatory response in COVID-19 patients. 

- History of patient diagnosed with COVID-19 and MM
- Methods that were used to treat COVID-19 patient with MM
- Results of the first COVID-19 patient with MM
- Discussion of the first COVID-19 patient with MM

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