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. 2020 Oct 26;15(10):e0241261.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241261. eCollection 2020.

Cancer inpatients with COVID-19: A report from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute

Andreia C de Melo  1 , Luiz C S Thuler  1 , Jesse L da Silva  1 , Lucas Z de Albuquerque  1 , Ana C Pecego  2 , Luciana de O R Rodrigues  2 , Magda S da Conceição  2 , Marianne M Garrido  2 , Gelcio L Quintella Mendes  3 , Ana Cristina P Mendes Pereira  4 , Marcelo A Soares  5 , João P B Viola  6 ; Brazilian National Cancer Institute COVID-19 Task Force
Affiliations

Cancer inpatients with COVID-19: A report from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute

Andreia C de Melo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of cancer inpatients with COVID-19 exploring clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective search in the electronic medical records of cancer inpatients admitted to the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from April 30, 2020 to May 26, 2020 granted identification of 181 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR.

Results: The mean age was 55.3 years (SD ± 21.1). Comorbidities were present in 110 (60.8%) cases. The most prevalent solid tumors were breast (40 [22.1%]), gastrointestinal (24 [13.3%]), and gynecological (22 [12.2%]). Among hematological malignancies, lymphoma (20 [11%]) and leukemia (10 [5.5%]) predominated. Metastatic disease accounted for 90 (49.7%) cases. In total, 63 (34.8%) had recently received cytotoxic chemotherapy. The most common complications were respiratory failure (70 [38.7%]), septic shock (40 [22.1%]) and acute kidney injury (33 [18.2%]). A total of 60 (33.1%) patients died due to COVID-19 complications. For solid tumors, the COVID-19-specific mortality rate was 37.7% (52 out of 138 patients) and for hematological malignancies, 23.5% (8 out of 34). According to the univariate analysis COVID-19-specific mortality was significantly associated with age over 75 years (P = .002), metastatic cancer (p <0.001), two or more sites of metastases (P < .001), the presence of lung (P < .001) or bone metastases (P = .001), non-curative treatment or best supportive care intent (P < .001), higher C-reactive protein levels (P = .002), admission due to COVID-19 (P = .009), and antibiotics use (P = .02). After multivariate analysis, cases with admission due to symptoms of COVID-19 (P = .027) and with two or more metastatic sites (P < .001) showed a higher risk of COVID-19-specific death.

Conclusion: This is the first Brazilian cohort of cancer patients with COVID-19. The rates of complications and COVID-19-specific death were significantly high.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Timeline individual cancer inpatients with COVID-19 for events during hospital stay.
All cases were represented in the graphic, with some overlaps of timelines.
Fig 2
Fig 2. COVID-19-related mortality rate according to the cancer type.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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