Journal
CANCER
Volume 128, Issue 4, Pages 839-848Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33987
Keywords
African American; coronavirus; epidemiology; outcomes; quality of life
Categories
Funding
- National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health [U01 CA199240, CA199240-04S1]
- Epidemiology Research Core and National Institutes of Health [P30CA022453]
- Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on African American cancer survivors, affecting both their physical and mental health. Some survivors have changed health behaviors that can negatively impact survivorship outcomes as a result.
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had profound effects on population health to date. African American cancer survivors are particularly vulnerable to developing severe consequences; therefore, understanding the impact of the virus on this patient population is critical. Methods The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors cohort is a unique effort to understand the determinants of poor outcomes in African American cancer survivors. To date, more than 4500 cancer survivors and nearly 950 primary caregivers have been enrolled; participation includes a survey and the collection of biospecimens, medical records, and tumor tissue. Beginning in the spring of 2020, a supplemental survey focusing on the impact of COVID-19 was offered to enrolled participants. The analysis included 890 survivors. Results Nearly all survivors (>99%) reported changes in their daily activities in an effort to reduce the risk of infection. More than 40% of the survivors reported some disruption in their access to medical care. A substantial proportion of the survivors (>40%) reported feeling anxious, depressed, and/or isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 40% of the patients reported changes in health behaviors shown to negatively affect survivorship outcomes (physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use) as a result of the pandemic. Conclusions The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on African American cancer survivors is substantial: it has affected both their physical and mental health. Coupled with changes in health behaviors, these factors will likely affect outcomes in this high-risk patient population, and this makes further study and interventions necessary to mitigate the long-term impact of the pandemic on cancer outcomes.
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