Covid-19 transmission, outcome and associated risk factors in cancer patients at the first month of the pandemic in a Spanish hospital in Madrid

Clin Transl Oncol. 2020 Dec;22(12):2364-2368. doi: 10.1007/s12094-020-02381-z. Epub 2020 May 25.

Abstract

Background: There are no large reported series determining the Covid-19 cancer patient's characteristics. We determine whether differences exist in cumulative incidence and mortality of Covid-19 infection between cancer patients and general population in Madrid.

Material and methods: We reviewed 1069 medical records of all cancer patients admitted at Oncology department between Feb 1 and April 7, 2020. We described Covid-19 cumulative incidence, treatment outcome, mortality, and associated risk factors.

Results: We detected 45/1069 Covid-19 diagnoses in cancer patients vs 42,450/6,662,000 in total population (p < 0.00001). Mortality rate: 19/45 cancer patients vs 5586/42,450 (p = 0.0001). Mortality was associated with older median age, adjusted by staging and histology (74 vs 63.5 years old, OR 1.06, p = 0.03). Patients who combined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin presented 3/18 deaths, regardless of age, staging, histology, cancer treatment and comorbidities (OR 0.02, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Cancer patients are vulnerable to Covid-19 with an increase in complications. Combined hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin is presented as a good treatment option.

Keywords: Cancer; Covid-19; Cumulative incidence; Metastatic; Mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Azithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Azithromycin