Clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of cancer patients with COVID-19: A population-based study

  • Jiandong Zhou
  • , Ishan Lakhani
  • , Oscar Chou
  • , Keith Sai Kit Leung
  • , Teddy Tai Loy Lee
  • , Michelle Vangi Wong
  • , Zhen Li
  • , Abraham Ka Chung Wai
  • , Carlin Chang
  • , Ian Chi Kei Wong
  • , Qingpeng Zhang
  • , Gary Tse
  • , Bernard Man Yung Cheung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer patients may be susceptible to poorer outcomes in COVID-19 infection owing to the immunosuppressant effect of chemotherapy/radiotherapy and cancer growth, along with the potential for nosocomial transmission due to frequent hospital admissions. Methods: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients who presented to Hong Kong public hospitals between 1 January 2020 and 8 December 2020. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of requirement for intubation, ICU admission and 30-day mortality. Results: The following study consisted of 6089 COVID-19 patients (median age 45.9 [27.8.1–62.7] years; 50% male), of which 142 were cancer subjects. COVID-19 cancer patients were older at baseline and tended to present with a higher frequency of comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation and gastrointestinal bleeding (p < 0.05). These subjects also likewise tended to present with higher serum levels of inflammatory markers, including D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, high sensitivity troponin-I and C-reactive protein. Multivariate Cox regression showed that any type of cancer presented with an almost four-fold increased risk of the primary outcome (HR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.63–8.72; p < 0.002) after adjusting for significant demographics, Charlson comorbidity index, number of comorbidities, past comorbidities and medication history. This association remained significant when assessing those with colorectal (HR: 5.07; 95% CI: 1.50–17.17; p < 0.009) and gastrointestinal malignancies (HR: 3.79; 95% CI: 1.12–12.88; p < 0.03), but not with lung, genitourinary, or breast malignancies, relative to their respective cancer-free COVID-19 counterparts. Conclusions: COVID-19 cancer patients are associated with a significantly higher risk of intubation, ICU admission and/or mortality.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)287-296
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Medicine
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • cancer
  • intensive care unit
  • intubation
  • mortality

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