Clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with COVID‐19

Abstract

Objective This retrospective study aimed to analysis clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with novel coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19). Method Medical records, laboratory results and radiologic findings of 52 cancer patients with COVID‐19 were collected, clinical characteristics and outcomes were summarized. Results A total of 52 cancer patients with COVID‐19 were included. Median age of 52 cancer patients with COVID‐19 was 63 years (34‐98). 33(63.5%) patients were mild and 19(36.5%) were severe/critical. Lung cancer was the most frequent cancer type (10, 19.2%). The common symptoms were as follows: fever (25%), dry cough (17.3%), chest distress (11.5%) and fatigue (9.6%).There were 33(63.5%) patients had comorbidities, the most common symptom was hypertension (17, 51.5%). 26(78.8%) patients developed pneumonia on admission. Lymphocytes (0.6×10⁹/L) decreased in both mild and severe/critical patients. Median levels of D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein(CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were 2.8 mg/L, 70.5 mg/L, 0.3 ng/mL, and 318 U/L respectively, which increased significantly in severe/critical patients compared to the mild patients. Interleukin 6(IL‐6) (12.6 pg/ml) increased in both mild and severe/critical patients, there was a significant difference between them. Complications were observed in 29(55.8%) patients, such as liver injury (19, 36.5%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (9, 17.3%), sepsis (8, 15.4%), myocardial injury (8, 15.4%), renal insufficiency (4, 7.7%), and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (3, 5.8%).11(21.2%) cancer patients died. Conclusion The infection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS‐COV‐2) in cancer patients was higher than the general population, cancer patients with COVID‐19 showed deteriorating conditions and poor outcomes.