key: cord-0823536-poz3z0x2
authors: Nemeth, Kristof; Nikolopoulos, Ioannis; Mani, Ali Reza
title: Scoping review on the prevalence of cancer in COVID‐19 patients.
date: 2020-08-10
journal: Br J Surg
DOI: 10.1002/bjs.11913
sha: 3c6a5504ab763b5bcc8cad32e852da746f3986fa
doc_id: 823536
cord_uid: poz3z0x2

nan

At this moment there is a lack of data on COVID-19 and gastrointestinal cancer especially immediately after surgical resection or chemoradiotherapy.

Higher prevalence rates have been reported in a number of studies with more severe outcomes in the cancer group 3,4 . Our own analysis revealed 4⋅2% pooled prevalence of cancer cases in the COVID-19 cohort. We have also been able to demonstrate a 3⋅9% prevalence of cancer in Asian and 5⋅24% prevalence in Non-Asian populations.

The pooled prevalence of cancer cases in the severe outcome subgroup of COVID-19 cases was 5⋅3% [95% CI: 4⋅5-6⋅2] versus 2⋅6% [95% CI: 1⋅5-4⋅4] in the non-severe outcome group, similar to published findings from Liang et al. 5 Cancer appeared to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. (RR 1⋅4894 [1⋅2357-1⋅7952] p = 0⋅0001) (Fig. 1) .

Our data is supporting the current approach taken by many countries where elective cancer surgery is deferred to a later date with the intention of surgery to be done once the pandemic is over. Such an approach is taken in order to preserve intensive care resources and to protect the individual cancer patients from severe adverse outcomes.

This rapid review has demonstrated that cancer patients have a higher likelihood of developing severe COVID-19 pneumonia and they also have a higher mortality rate than non-cancer patients.

Should the pandemic take longer or if we encounter a re-emergence of the virus our cancer strategy will have to change, and cancer treatment pathways will have to adapt to the pandemic. 

Strategy for the practice of digestive and oncological surgery during the Covid-19 epidemic

COVID-19 pandemic: implications on the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary tumours in Europe

Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China

Epidemiology Group of Emergency Response Mechanism of New Coronavirus Pneumonia. Analysis of Epidemiological Characteristics of New Coronavirus Pneumonia

Cancer patients in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide analysis in China

Additional supporting information can be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article.