Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 and Cancer History: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Iran

Javad Zarei; Abbas Sheikhtaheri; Mehrnaz Ahmadi; Maria Cheraghi; Abdolhassan Talaiezadeh; Adeleh Khazami

doi:10.18502/ijhoscr.v18i1.14744

Javad Zarei Department of Health Information Technology, School of Allied ‎Medical Sciences, Ahvaz ‎Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abbas Sheikhtaheri Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management & Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehrnaz Ahmadi Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Maria Cheraghi Department of Public Health, School of Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abdolhassan Talaiezadeh Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Cancer Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Adeleh Khazami Department of Medical Librarianship and Information Sciences, School of Allied ‎Medical Sciences, Ahvaz ‎Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijhoscr.v18i1.14744

Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; Mortality; Prognostic Factors; Severe clinical events; Iran

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients are more exposed to opportunistic infections, such as COVID-19, due to their poor health status. This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of cancer and non-cancer patients with COVID-19 that may lead to death, intubation, and ICU admission.

Materials and Methods: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional study was conducted on confirmed COVID-19 adult patients with and without a history of cancer from March 2019 to March 2021. Demographic and clinical features, ICU admission, intubation, and discharge status have been extracted from patients’ medical records. Chi-square, odds ratio, Mann-Whitney test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results: The death rate in 1332 cancer patients was 28% compared to the 91464 noncancer patients which was 9% with an odds ratio of 3.94 and p<0.001. ICU admission rates among the cancer group were 43%, while in the noncancer group, it was 17.9% (p<0.001). Moreover, intubation was done for 20.9% of cancer patients and 7.4% of non-cancer patients (p<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of length of stay in the hospital. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, level of consciousness, SPO2, and autoimmune disorders were associated with mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19.

Conclusion: This study showed that older age, loss of consciousness, low oxygen saturation, and suffering from autoimmune disorders were the predictors of death in cancer patients with COVID-19. These results can have important implications for the management and care of cancer patients with COVID-19.