Thoracic cancer patients and Covid-19: experience from a portuguese tertiary care unit

Abstract

-Cancer patients have higher risk of Covid-19 infection and may develop severe disease with increased mortality. Thoracic CancERs International CoVid-19 COLlaboraTion Registry (Teravolt) is a global consortium that assesses outcomes in this group of patients.

-Describe TERAVOLT results in a portuguese tertiary care hospital.

-Descriptive study. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia Thoracic Tumors Unit between march 2020 and january 2021 were included. Demographic, clinical, pathological and radiological data were collected.

-31 patients: 71% males, mean age 65,2. 74,2% had non small cell lung carcinoma. Most patients had ECOG PS 1. Disease stage was diverse (IV-63%; III-18,5%; II-3,7%; I-14,8%). 77,4% presented comorbidities. 59,1% were not receiving treatment at time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Fatigue and dyspnea were the most common symptoms; 29% were asymptomatic. 41,9% were hospitalized, none was admitted to the intensive care unit. Pneumonia was the most frequent complication. Death rate was 16,1%.

-Compared to TERAVOLT published results, there is a lower death rate in our population (16,1% vs. 32%). All deaths occurred in stage IV patients with ECOG PS 2-3, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during hospitalization. The percentage of asymptomatic patients may be explained by mandatory SARS-CoV-2 PCR screening tests performed before treatments and invasive procedures. Telephonic visits, less frequent immunotherapy dosing schedules and tyrosine kinase inhibitors given for a 2-month period were implemented measures to prevent unnecessary hospital visits. Protocols regarding infection control measures and treatment options in this group of patients should be created.