Abstract 1753P
Background
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are associated with anxiety of death and cancer recurrence. The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused fear and anxiety among cancer patients. Incidence of severe and even fatal complications during SARS-CoV-2 infection is greater in the cancer patients, therefore recommendations of oncological therapy have changed. The aim of the study was the anxiety level analysis among oncology patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in correlation with mental adjustment to cancer.
Methods
306 patients, ≥18-years of age with histologically confirmed cancer and concurrently receiving systemic treatment were enrolled in 4 Oncological Centeres in Poland. The most common types of cancer were breast cancer (n=84), colorectal cancer (n=55) and melanoma (n=25). The level of cancer- related anxiety (CRA) and SARS-CoV-2-related anxiety (SRA) was measured in numerical (0-10 points) scale and validated Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The degree of adaptation to cancer was evaluated with the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale (Mini-MAC). The study was performed on May 11-15th, 2020. Non-parametric tests and Spearman correlations were used for statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics are presented as median and interquartile range. The study was approved by the ethics committee.
Results
The median of CRA (6; 5-10) was higher than SRA anxiety (5; 3-8; p=0.025). The level of CRA significantly correlated with coronavirus anxiety (r=0,531; p=0,01). The numerical and Fear of the COVID-19 scales were highly comparable (r=0.741; p<0.001). Gender (p<0.001) and tumor type (p=0.025) were significantly associated with SRA. The anxiety was higher in women (8; 5-10) than in men (5; 4-8) Patients with breast cancer had the highest SAR, while those with lung cancer had the lowest. Patients with high destructive attitude in Mini-MAC had higher SAR than with low attitude (p<0.001).
Conclusions
The level of CRA was higher than SRA among oncological patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Women with breast cancer and patients with destructive attitude should be provided with increased psychological care. Despite changes in the functioning of oncological healthcare, continuity of care should be maintained.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Local Bioetics committee in Olsztyn, c11/2020/VII.
Funding
Department of Oncology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.
Disclosure
D.S. Sigorski: Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Astellas. P. Sobczuk: Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: MSD; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pierre Fabre. P. Rutkowski: Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: MSD; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Novartis; Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Bureau; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution): BMS; Honoraria (self): Roche; Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Eli Lilly; Advisory/Consultancy: Blueprint Medicines. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.