1.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019-infected adult cancer patients in the Philippines from March to December 2020
Mary Ondinee Igot, MD ; Brylle Caesar Dala, MD ; Jonas Planilla, MD ; Marvin Mendoza, MD ; Anna Flor Gaboy-Malundo, MD ; Perlita Yu-Dela Cruz, MD ; Kenny Jun Demegillo, MD ; Kathryn Roa, MD ; Melina Barzaga, MD ; Diane Buendia, MD ; Dawn Guardiario, MD ; Gerardo Cornelio, MD ; Danielle Benedict Sacdalan, MD
Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine 2023;61(2):52-56
Background:
Data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Filipino cancer patients who acquired the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited and local information is lacking. Here we characterize the outcomes of patients with
cancer and COVID-19.
Methods:
Medical records of Filipino cancer patients with COVID-19 from the University of the Philippines – Philippine
General Hospital (UP-PGH), Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), De La Salle – University Medical Center (DLS-
UMC), and St Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) from March to December 2020 were reviewed.
Results:
Sixty-nine cancer patients were identified to have COVID-19. The mean age was 53 years (range 19-88) and 45
(65%) patients were female. The most prevalent malignancies were from the gastrointestinal tract (16 [23%]) and the breast
(14 [20%]). The majority (34 [49%]) had metastatic disease and had a functional status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology
Group (ECOG) 2 or worse (39 [57%]). Forty-two (61%) patients had active oncologic treatment given for the past three
months and twenty-four (35%) of these patients were on chemotherapy. The most common symptoms upon presentation
were cough (34 [49%]) followed by dyspnea (28 [41%]). COVID-19 severity of this series was as follows: 15 mild (22%), 32
moderate (46%), 7 severe (10%), and 15 critical (22%). The majority received intravenous antibiotics (54 [78%]),
investigational treatments (27 [39%]), and steroids (20 [29%]). Common complications were acute respiratory failure (20
[29%]), acute respiratory distress syndrome (17 [25]), and septic shock (15 [22%]). At the end of the collection period, 21
(30%) cancer patients died. The mean length of hospital stay was 22 days.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of our case series, ECOG 2 and higher, metastatic stage, higher neutrophil to
lymphocyte ratio showed a trend to worse outcomes. Cancer-related treatment within the past months did not appear to
affect outcomes.
COVID-19
;
SARS-COV2
;
Cancer
;
Philippines