August 4, 2020

The Risk and Prognosis of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

• A systematic review and meta-analysis (n=22 studies with 1,018 cancer patients) found the prevalence of cancer among patients was 2.1% (95% CI 1.3, 3%). Case fatality among these patients was 21.1% (95% CI 14.7, 27.6%). The probability for severe/critical disease was 45.4% (95% CI 37.4, 53.3%), for ICU admission was 14.5% (95% CI 8.5, 20.4%), and need for mechanical ventilation was 11.7% (95% CI 5.5, 18.8%). COVID-19 patients with cancer were found to have a higher odds of mortality (OR=3.23, 95% CI 1.7, 6.1), severe/critical disease (OR=3.9, 95% CI 2.7, 5.7), ICU admission (OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.9, 5.7) and mechanical ventilation (OR=4.9, 95% CI 1.3, 18.7) compared with COVID-19 patients without cancer.  

Elgohary. (July 2020). The Risk and Prognosis of COVID-19 Infection in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.07.005