The outbreak of respiratory diseases caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China received global attention due to its fast transmission and high lethality, especially among those aged >60 years and with comorbidities. Approximately seven out of ten deaths by COVID-19 in Latin America occurred in Brazil [[1]Mortes de COVID-19 na América Latina 2021, por país.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103965/latin-america-caribbean-coronavirus-deaths/Date: 2021Google Scholar]. More than 450 thousand deaths occurred until the end of May 2021, and only 10% of the Brazilian population was fully vaccinated [[2]Ministério da Saúde do Brasil COVID-19 Painel Coronavírus.https://covid.saude.gov.br/Date: 2019Google Scholar]. Moreover, epidemic behavior in Brazil varied according to characteristics of each region, and inequities were worse in the poorest regions (e.g., northeast and north). Soon, the Brazilian unified health system (SUS) was at risk of collapse due to fast virus transmission, limited national coordination, low testing capacity, and difficulty controlling population transmission. In patients with cancer, lethality is higher than reported in other studies [[3]Kuderer N.M. Choueiri T.K. Shah D.P. et al.Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1907-1918Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (973) Google Scholar], and the impact of the pandemic on health conditions of these patients is not yet fully understood. Patients with cancer are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and its complications, mainly due to tumoral activity, immunological suppression, antineoplastic treatment, and increased exposure to multiple diagnostic and treatment procedures [[4]Kamboj M. Sepkowitz K.A. Nosocomial infections in patients with cancer.Lancet Oncol. 2009; 10: 589-597Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (207) Google Scholar]. Also, heterogeneity and complexity of COVID-19 in patients with cancer are challenging, especially in low-income and developing countries. Therefore, active strategies to improve oncologic patient care in various contexts during the pandemic are fundamental to recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer. In this context, we conducted a study (research ethics committee of the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira - CAAE: 34637720.5.0000.5201) in a state of northeastern Brazil to determine lethality and factors associated with fatality in patients with cancer who developed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to COVID-19. The state of Pernambuco has a territorial area of 98,076,021 km [[2]Ministério da Saúde do Brasil COVID-19 Painel Coronavírus.https://covid.saude.gov.br/Date: 2019Google Scholar] and estimated population of 9,616,621 inhabitants (2020) distributed among 185 cities. Patients with cancer aged 20 years or older, with SARS due to COVID-19 (confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), and notified in FormSUS between March 07, 2020 and May 08, 2021 were included in the study (Fig. 1). Age, sex, race, comorbidities, history and type of cancer, topography of primary tumor, and COVID-19 were included in the analysis. Patients with solid or hematologic tumors or without data regarding cancer type were compared with those with history of cancer. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated for each tumor topography and adjusted OR (aOR) was obtained at final model. FormSUS database had 41,545 individuals diagnosed with SARS from COVID-19. In total, 756 patients (mean age of 66.3 ± 15.3 years, 51.9% males) were analyzed. Primary tumor topography was not described in 25.5%, 3.2% had history of cancer, 11.6% had hematologic cancer, and 59.7% had solid tumors. Global lethality was 75.8%, and analyses showed age (aOR 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.03; p < 0.001) and previous chronic pulmonary disease (aOR 2.02; 95%CI 0.96–4.28; p = 0.064) were risk factors for fatality. Being overweight (aOR 0.50; 95%CI 0.23–1.10; p = 0.087) and having a cough as a COVID-19 symptom (aOR 0.57; 95% I 0.40–0.83; p = 0.003) were protective factors (Table 1).Table 1Lethality and mortality risk factors associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in adults with cancer. Data from Health State Secretary of Pernambuco (SES-PE), Brazil, between March 07, 2020 and May 08, 2021.CasesTotalLethalityUnivariate AnalysesMultivariate AnalysesN = 756(%)OR95%CIp-valueORa95% CIp-valueAge (years)Mean ± SD66·3 ± 15·3–1·021·01–1·03<0·0011·021·01–1·03<0·001Median (IQR)67 (57·0–78·0)Group age (years)n (%)0·01520 to 3946 (6·1)67·41–––––40 to 59186 (24·6)68·31·040·52–2·070·908–––60 to 79359 (47·5)76·61·580·82–3·070·174–––80 or more165 (22·0)84·82·711·28–5·730·009–––SexFemale364 (48·1)72·51–––––Male392 (51·9)78·81·411·00–1·960·043–––Racen (%)––<0·001Brown- skinned, black, Asian, Indigenous460 (60·9)74·01–––––White165 (21·8)86·12·111·29–3·430·003–––Not described131 (17·3)67·10·70·46–1·060·094–––Comorbidities––0·142Up to one529 (70·0)74·31–––––Two or more227 (30·0)79·31·320·91–1·930·142–––Type of ComorbiditiesCardiovascular disease (excluding systemic arterial hypertension)291 (38·5)76·31·040·74–1·470·802–––Diabetes mellitus154 (20·4)80·51·410·91–2·180·126–––Systemic arterial hypertension68 (9·0)82·31·540·81–2·950·189–––Chronic pulmonary disease62 (8·2)85·81·970·95–4·080·0682·020·96–4·280·064Smoking44 (5·8)70·40·750·38–1·460·396–––Chronic renal disease46 (6·1)73·90·90·46–1·770·759–––Chronic neurologic disease32 (4·23)84·41·760·67–4·640·253–––Overweight29 (3·8)62·00·510·23–1·090·0840·50·23–1·100·087Other comorbidities38 (5·0)76·31·030·48–2·220·939–––History and type of cancerCancer history24 (3·2)66·71–––––Location not described193 (25·5)78·71·850·74–4·630·187–––Solid Tumor451 (59·7)76·31·610·67–3·860·288–––Hematologic cancer88 (11·6)69·31·130·43–2·960·804–––Topography of primary tumorGastrointestinal system99 (13·1)79·81·980·74–5·260·174–––Urologic91 (12·0)79·11·890·71–5·090·205–––Breast89 (11·8)68·51·090·42–2·840·861–––Respiratory system48 (6·4)83·32·50·80–7·810·115–––Gynecological38 (5·0)68·41·080·36–3·220·886–––Central nervous system24 (3·2)83·32·50·63–9·820·189–––Hematologic cancer88 (11·6)69·30·690·42–1·120·133–––Other types of cancer62 (8·2)73·91·440·52–3·990·486–––COVID-19 symptomsCough466 (61·6)72·10·580·40–0·830·0030·570·40–0·830·003Fever429 (56·7)73·00·70·49–0·980·038–––Oxygen saturation < 95%494 (65·3)77·51·310·93–1·840·126–––SD: standard deviation. IQR: interquartile range. OR: odds ratio. ORa: adjusted odds ratio. CI: confidence interval. p-values in bold. Open table in a new tab SD: standard deviation. IQR: interquartile range. OR: odds ratio. ORa: adjusted odds ratio. CI: confidence interval. p-values in bold. First, the highest lethality in patients with cancer draws attention because it is disproportionally higher than other studies, even in hospitalized environments [[5]Liang W. Guan W. Chen R. et al.Cancer patients in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide analysis in China.Lancet Oncol. 2020; 21: 335-337Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2769) Google Scholar]. This could be partially explained by characteristics of the studied population (patients with cancer and SARS due to COVID-19), magnitude of the disease, and associated risk factors [[5]Liang W. Guan W. Chen R. et al.Cancer patients in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide analysis in China.Lancet Oncol. 2020; 21: 335-337Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2769) Google Scholar]. Second, we observed that age increased the chance of death by 2% for each year of life, and lethality was higher in patients aged ≥80 years. This age group has the highest growth rate in Brazil and worldwide. However, we believe mortality by cancer in very old individuals tends to decrease or stabilize either by biological phenomenon or lack of notification in cancer registries [[6]Pilleron S. Soerjomataram I. Soto-Perez-de-Celis E. Ferlay J. Vega E. Bray F. et al.Aging and the cancer burden in Latin America and the Caribbean: time to act.J Geriatr Oncol. 2019 Sep; 10: 799-804Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (11) Google Scholar]. Although the COVID-19 pandemic reduced life expectancy by 1.31 years in Brazil [[7]Castro M.C. Gurzenda S. Turra C.M. Kim S. Andrasfay T. Goldman N. Reduction in life expectancy in Brazil after COVID-19.Nat Med. 2021; Sep; 27 (9): 1629-1635https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01437-zCrossref Scopus (29) Google Scholar], the impact of COVID-19 in elderly individuals must also consider interactions among income inequality, poverty, and access to healthcare infrastructure (e.g., availability of physicians and hospital beds). Aging is associated with a number of comorbidities, including cancer, while chronic diseases are risk factors for severe COVID-19. Although chronic pulmonary diseases are not very frequent comorbidities in COVID-19 patients, they were associated with high lethality in patients with cancer with COVID-19 and the general population [[8]Deslee G. Zysman M. Burgel P.R. et al.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the COVID-19 pandemic: reciprocal challenges.Respir Med Res. 2020; 78100764Google Scholar]. Third, overweight patients with COVID-19 present more severe symptoms and high risk of death [[9]Földi M. Farkas N. Kiss S. et al.Obesity is a risk factor for developing critical condition in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obes Rev. 2020, Nov 15; 127(22) (e13095): 4240-4248https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33832Crossref Scopus (3) Google Scholar]; however, this might not be true in patients with cancer. We observed that being overweight was a protective factor, probably because muscle, fat reserve, or both contributed to reducing the impacts of sarcopenia/cachexia, improving prognosis. Lastly, having a cough as a COVID-19 symptom was also a protective factor for patients with cancer in our study. Perhaps this could be explained because in the presence of cough, the patient may seek medical care early. This symptom is highly prevalent in critically ill patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 [[10]Costa G.J. de Azevedo C. Junior J.I.C. Bergmann A. Thuler L.C.S. Higher severity and risk of in-hospital mortality for COVID-19 patients with cancer during the year 2020 in Brazil: a countrywide analysis of secondary data.Cancer. 2021; Nov 15;127(22): 4240-4248https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33832Crossref Scopus (3) Google Scholar] and patients with cancer. Therefore, it should be considered an objective alert for patients and caregivers seek healthcare. Although most patients with cancer and COVID-19 had solid tumors [[3]Kuderer N.M. Choueiri T.K. Shah D.P. et al.Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1907-1918Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (973) Google Scholar], they were not included in the priority vaccination group. On May 28, 2021, the Health Secretary of Pernambuco followed recommendations of the Brazilian Health Ministry, which gave priority for COVID-19 vaccination to patients with cancer aged between 55 and 59 who had chemo- or radiotherapy in the previous six months or had hematologic cancer. [[11]Governo do Estado de Pernambuco Nota Técnica SIDI 11/2021 – Atualizada.https://conectarecife.recife.pe.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/pcr-grupos-de-comorbidades.pdfDate: 2021Google Scholar] Therefore, most patients with cancer with solid tumors or equally vulnerable groups (e.g., patients in palliative care or with other active illnesses) were not vaccinated. Vulnerability to COVID-19 and complications in patients with cancer were probably due to tumoral activity, immunological suppression, antineoplastic treatment, and increased exposure for multiple diagnostic and treatment procedures [[3]Kuderer N.M. Choueiri T.K. Shah D.P. et al.Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1907-1918Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (973) Google Scholar]. Access, organization of healthcare, and its capacity to promote continuity of safe oncologic care in the pandemic must also be highlighted. The state of Pernambuco has one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 mortality per 100,000 inhabitants in Brazil (attributed to local government efforts) [[3]Kuderer N.M. Choueiri T.K. Shah D.P. et al.Clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with cancer (CCC19): a cohort study.Lancet. 2020; 395: 1907-1918Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (973) Google Scholar]. The highest and disproportional fatality rate among patients with cancer who developed SARS from COVID-19 is possibly due to inequity of conditions and challenges faced by patients with cancer. Prevention and early access to oncologic and COVID-19 care need to be revisited to reduce inequities. Reorganization of healthcare networks and discussion about possible stigmas and ethical and humanitarian dilemmas related to cancer and aging are also needed. Unfortunately, actions from the Brazilian federal government regarding social distancing recommendations, testing volume, urgency to ensure vaccination, and clinical management differed from most countries and international organizations. Politicization of health and false and distorted information are still obstacles, limiting the fight against COVID-19 in Brazil. The fight against diseases such as cancer, COVID-19, or both, demands that the healthcare system prioritize humanitarian questions. Therefore, recognition of this unequal fight is needed, especially in developing countries. Further evidence is required to assess the impacts of signs/symptoms, other comorbidities, and tumoral characteristics (e.g., tumor stage, current or past treatment type) in patients with cancer and associations among these important factors and risk of mortality. Gabrielle R. Sena: Study concepts Study concepts and design, quality control of data and algorithms, data analysis and interpretation, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, editing and review. Jurema T. O. Lima: Study concepts Study concepts and design, quality control of data and algorithms, data analysis and interpretation, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, editing and review. Maria Julia G. Mello: Study concepts Study concepts and design, quality control of data and algorithms, data analysis and interpretation, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, editing and review. Tiago P. F. Lima: Data acquisition and quality control of data and algorithms. Suely A. Vidal: Data analysis and interpretation. Mozart J. T. Sales: Data acquisition. Paulo S. A. Goes: Data acquisition. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Download .docx (.01 MB) Help with docx files Supplementary material