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That COVID-19 is particularly dangerous for people living with comorbidities such as lung disease, diabetes, heart disease or various types of cancers is well established. But new research studying the effects of COVID-19 on people living with cancers for longer than 24 months suggests that the new coronavirus infection could be even worse for them.
Read more: COVID-19 and cancer
The study was conducted by researchers from King’s College London and the St. Francis Thomas Foundation Trust, who found that COVID-19 has even more severe effects on a patient already suffering from cancer for the past two years or longer. They also suggested that COVID-19 could prove to be fatal among people of Asian origin undergoing palliative care for diseases.
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology analysed 156 such cancer patients who were found to be suffering from COVID-19 between February 29 and May 12, 2020. About 82% of the patients had mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, but the number of cancer patients with severe infections was only 18%. The researchers linked advanced demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 to critically ill patients or those who succumbed to the disease.
Read more: Why COVID-19 is more dangerous for diabetes patients
According to the study, 22% of the patients died during the 37-day follow-up while under research. The researchers also found that patients of Asian origin, patients undergoing palliative treatment as well as patients with cancer who had been diagnosed for more than two years had a higher prevalence of severe symptoms and death due to the infection. In addition, patients who had breathing problems or who had higher CRP (C-reactive protein, a common blood marker for inflammation) levels were also more likely to die from COVID-19.
The scientists concluded that those infected with fever, dyspnea (shortness of breath), gastrointestinal symptoms, or who had been diagnosed with cancers suffered from severe symptoms from COVID-19. Most of the patients involved in the research were male and were from poorer sections of the society. Half the patients were white, 22% black and 4% of patients were of Asian descent.
Significantly, COVID-19 is more dangerous and life-threatening for people who are 60 years of age or older, or who are already battling a serious illness that makes their immunity weaker than others. The diseases include hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and various cancers, as confirmed by the new study. However, the study did not delve into the outcome of patients who developed cancers within the last 24 months, and had contracted COVID-19.
