Covid-19 pattern in cancer patients-an experience from a tertiary care center of western UP

Abstract

Many researches are published and still going on for the effects of comorbidities on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but large studies on cancer as a risk factor and severity of covid-19 in cancer patients are still lacking. The aim of this study was to see the prevalence of covid- 19 in cancer patients and to observe the pattern of disease course in cancer patients undergoing active treatment. In this study, 50 patients of covid-19 RTPCR confirmed cancer patients were enrolled who visited the department from 1may to September 2020 and were retrospectively analyzed for their disease course. Infectivity rate of 5% was observed while case fatality rate was 12%. Mean age of presentation was 42.9yr with male predominance. Head and neck carcinoma patients were more prone to covid-19.20% patients were symptomatic, who required admission in covid ward. Infectivity rate as well as case fatality rate was higher in cancer patients, especially those taking active cancer treatment and were having other comorbid conditions also. Cancer treatment makes a risk factor for covid-19 infection. Mortality is more in cases having associated comorbidities. Though more prospective randomized trials are needed for any statistical analysis.