Management of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review

• 作者: Alfredo Tartarone Marina Tartarone
• 来源期刊: 临床与病理杂志
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（8）
• 所属期刊栏目: International Clinical and Pathological Column
• 页码范围: 1723-1727
• 页数: 5页
• 语种: 中文
• DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2095-6959.2021.08.001

摘要

Objective: We wrote this review with the objective of helping the physicians to manage patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Background: In the absence of specific curative treatments, COVID-19 exerted worldwide a dramatic impact on public health and socio-economic aspects. Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population when suffering from COVID-19 infection since they usually present a series of risk factors such as immunosuppressed state, older age, comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disease, diabetes) and need for frequent hospitalizations and visits. A series of observational studies demonstrated that cancer patients infected with COVID-19, particularly with lung cancer, have a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Methods: We conducted a review of several observational studies and guidelines regarding the management of cancer patients in the context of COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: The oncologists, according to the main available recommendations, should carefully weigh risks/benefits when planning therapies and follow-up visits. They should defeat the "distraction effect" of the pandemic, which is represented by the risk of shifting attention away from standard therapeutic approach to COVID-19 only. In addition, health authorities should prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for cancer patients with the aim of limiting the consequences of the pandemic in this particularly frail population.