Abstract 1760P
Background
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that has been responsible for the largest pandemic in the last century: COVID-19. Some patients (pts) develop a severe pneumonia with higher mortality rate. Oncological population could be at higher risk.
Methods
We evaluated the association between COVID-19 severe pneumonia and clinical/laboratory/radiological parameters in cancer pts admitted to our institution from March to April 2020. We considered a severe pneumonia if the patient required more than 5L supplemental oxygen. Past medical history and COVID-19-related parameters (such as symptoms, laboratory/x-ray findings and specific treatments for the COVID-19) were retrospectively collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis have been done using logistic regression.
Results
Forty-three cancer pts were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis; 27 pts (62.8%) were male. Median age was 68.8 ± 7.8 years. Most part of the pts had gastrointestinal (13; 30.2%), thoracic (12; 27.9%) and breast (6; 14%) cancer. 33 pts (83.7%) presented pneumonia, which was bilateral in 24 pts (55.8%). Median basal saturation of oxygen (O2) was 92% (87-94.5). Severe pneumonia was observed in 23 pts (53.5%). In these patients, the most common symptoms were dyspnea (16; 69.6%), cough (14; 60.9%) and fever (11; 47.8%). Hydroxychloroquine was administered in 20 pts (87%), antiretrovirals in 14 pts (60.9%), steroids in 13 pts (56.5%) and tocilizumab in 9 pts (39%). Mortality rate due to COVID-19 was 84.6% in pts with severe pneumonia versus 15.4% in the rest of patients (p=0.03). Thoracic cancer and diabetes were associated with severe pneumonia development in univariate analysis. Thoracic cancer [OR: 12.0 (1.8 – 246.5)] was also associated in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions
Severe pneumonia was frequent in cancer patients with COVID-19 admitted to our institution and was associated with a high mortality rate. Thoracic tumours were found to be a risk factor for developing severe pneumonia. Further investigations with larger number of pts are needed.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.