COVID-19: RISK, CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND MECHANISM AMONG PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Received 2023-01-03; Accepted 2023-04-11; Published 2023-06-06

Abstract

Since its first outbreak in 2019, Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has killed millions of people worldwide. Among those who are affected by the disease, cancer patients are more vulnerable towards this respiratory illness. This review covers the clinical features, risks and mechanism of the disease among Covid-19 patients associated with cancer. Patients with cancer are at higher risk to Covid-19 infection and develop worse clinical outcomes. Among all cancer types, lung cancer patients are the most susceptible for infection, whereas haematological malignant patients are at higher risk of developing severe clinical symptoms and death. Cancer patients are clinically immunosuppressive causing them already susceptible to infection. Infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus is highly infectious and contagious causing cytokine and bradykinin storms which make patients with underlying cancer disease to have adverse outcomes and consequently death. Better care for patients with cancer should be emphasised during pandemic to reduce burden of the disease not only to the patient, but also to the overall healthcare system.