Direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with pulmonary and pleural malignancies – a retrospective analysis of patient outcomes treated at Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital Brno, during the 2nd and 3rd coronavirus waves

Abstract

The pandemic of COVID-19 has significantly influenced the dia-gnostics and treatment of patients with lung and pleural malignancies. This group of patients is the riskiest, compared to patients with other cancers, both in morbidity and mortality.The data of patients with lung/pleural malignancies and proved COVID-19 positivity were analyzed at the Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, University Hospital Brno, during the period from October 2020 to May 2021. Demographic data, information about the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and oncological disease as well as mortality were monitored. Together with the data from the study population, three case reports are also presented.Fifty-three patients were found (79% males), mean age 69.4 years, mainly with adenocarcinoma histology. A total of 47.1% patients experienced mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 56.6% needed hospitalization, 24.5% died. Active anticancer treatment was delayed in 62.4% cases due to SARS-CoV-2 infection; the mean time of the delay reached 14.5 days.Patients with lung and pleural malignancies have a high risk of severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. Moreover, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as postcovid changes can complicate the anticancer treatment itself.