Outcomes of COVID-19 and risk factors in patients with cancer

Pramesh and colleagues report a study on the risk factors and outcomes in a large cohort of patients with cancer infected with SARS-CoV-2 from a tertiary care cancer center in India. Patients with cancer are at higher risk for adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Here, we studied 1,253 patients with cancer, who were diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at a tertiary referral cancer center in India. Most patients had mild disease; in our settings, recent cancer therapies did not impact COVID-19 outcomes. Advancing age, smoking history, concurrent comorbidities and palliative intent of treatment were independently associated with severe COVID-19 or death. Thus, our study provides useful insights into cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Automated summary

Pramesh and colleagues conducted a study on the risk factors and outcomes in cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in India. They found that cancer patients are at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Advancing age, smoking history, concurrent comorbidities, and palliative intent of treatment were independently associated with severe COVID-19 or death.