Abstract
BackgroundCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an overwhelming impact on healthcare worldwide. Outstandingly, the aftermath on neoplastic patients is still largely unknown, and only isolated cases of COVID-19 during radiotherapy have been published. We will report the two-months experience of our Department, set in Lombardy “red-zone”.MethodsData of 402 cancer patients undergoing active treatment from February 24 to April 24, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed; several indicators of the Department functioning were also analyzed.ResultsDedicated measures allowed an overall limited reduction of the workload. Decrease of radiotherapy treatment number reached 17%, while the number of administration of systemic treatment and follow up evaluations kept constant. Conversely, new treatment planning faced substantial decline. Considering the patients, infection rate was 3.23% (13/402) and mortality 1.24% (5/402). Median age of COVID-19 patients was 69.7 years, the large majority were male and smokers (84.6%); lung cancer was the most common tumor type (61.5%), 84.6% of subjects were stage III-IV and 92.3% had comorbidities. Remarkably, 92.3% of the cases were detected before March 24. Globally, only 2.5% of ongoing treatments were suspended due to suspect or confirmed COVID-19 and 46.2% of positive patients carried on radiotherapy without interruption. Considering only the last month, infection rate among patients undergoing treatment precipitated to 0.43% (1/232) and no new contagions were reported within our staff.ConclusionsAlthough mortality rate in COVID-19 cancer patients is elevated, our results support the feasibility and safety of continuing anticancer treatment during SARS-Cov-2 pandemic by endorsing consistent preventive measures.
Highlights
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an overwhelming impact on healthcare worldwide.Outstandingly, the aftermath on neoplastic patients is still largely unknown, and only isolated cases of COVID-19 during radiotherapy have been published
Only 2.5% of ongoing treatments were suspended due to suspect or confirmed COVID-19 and 46.2% of positive patients carried on radiotherapy without interruption
Considering only the last month, infection rate among patients undergoing treatment precipitated to 0.43% (1/232) and no new contagions were reported within our staff
Summary
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an overwhelming impact on healthcare worldwide.Outstandingly, the aftermath on neoplastic patients is still largely unknown, and only isolated cases of COVID-19 during radiotherapy have been published. Since the first reported local transmission on 21st February 2020, the outbreak mainly involved northern area, with Lombardy standing out as the second region with most deaths worldwide after New York state, but with half of the population Our Radiation Oncology Department is set in the main hospital of the city of Brescia, known for being the province with the second higher number of confirmed cases in Italy (http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_notizie_4640_1_file.pdf). The scenario is even more intricate in cancer patients, as manifestations of the tumor and side effects of the treatment might mimic COVID-19 [2, 3]. This pandemic massively spread worldwide, the impact on neoplastic patients is still largely unknown
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