Abstract PO-122: Palliative care for 317 cancer patients with COVID-19 in a major public hospital in South America

Abstract

Abstract Background: Cancer patients are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 and worse virus-related outcomes. In addition, low- and middle-income countries may be even more impacted by COVID-19, and not offer appropriate end-of-life support to many patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the palliative care offered to cancer patients with COVID-19 in a major referral hospital in South America. Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study in Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. This hospital is considered one of the major referral and public hospitals in South America. Medical records of adult cancer patients admitted for COVID-19 were reviewed. Patients were screened for the need for palliative care through Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT). Data was analyzed using Stata 14. Results: The sample was composed of 317 Latino patients, of which 155 (48.9%) were male and 162 (51.1%) were female. Median [IQR] age was 68 [56-81] years old. In addition, 119 (37.5%) were admitted to the wards, 110 (34.7%) to the emergency room, and 88 (27.8%) to the intensive care unit. Patients admitted to the wards were more likely to receive palliative care (46.7% vs. 32.9%; p=0.016). A total of 107 (33.7%) patients had access to palliative care. Regarding SPICT criteria, 260 (82.0%) were at risk of deteriorating and dying. Of the patients who met SPICT criteria, 98 (37.7%) had access to palliative care during hospitalization. Regarding outcomes; 155 patients (48.9%) died, 128 (40.4%) were discharged, and 34 (10.7%) were transferred to another unit. Of the patients who died, 72 (46.5%) did not have access to palliative care. Conclusions: In our study, there was a high mortality rate in Latino cancer patients with COVID-19, although a considerable percentage of them did not have access to palliative care before dying. It is important to give further attention to the end-of-life support offered to cancer patients with COVID-19, especially in underserved communities and among racial/ethnic minorities. Citation Format: Tulio L. Correa, Joyce V.B. Sobreira, Áurea M.S. Simão, Fernanda B. Anbar, Flavia Yarshell, Ricardo T. de Carvalho. Palliative care for 317 cancer patients with COVID-19 in a major public hospital in South America [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-122.