Background Adult cancer patients are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality following COVID-19 infection. Being on the front lines, it is crucial for emergency physicians to identify those who are at higher risk of mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the predictors of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 positive cancer patients who present to the emergency department. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on adult cancer patients who presented to the ED of the American university of Beirut medical center from February 21, 2020, till February 21, 2021, and were found to have COVID-19 infection. Relevant data was extracted and analyzed. The association between different variables and in-hospital mortality was tested using Student’s t test and Fisher’s exact test or Pearson’s Chi-square where appropriate. Logistic regression was applied to factors with p <0.2 in the univariate models. Results The study included 89 distinct patients with an average age of 66 years (± 13.6). More than half of them were smokers (52.8%) and had received chemotherapy within 1 month of presentation (52.8%). About one third of the patients died (n = 31, 34.8%). Mortality was significantly higher in patients who had recently received chemotherapy (67.7% vs 44.8%, p = .039), a history of congestive heart failure (CHF)(p = .04), higher levels of CRP (p = 0.048) and/or PCT(p<0.04) or were tachypneic in the ED (P = 0.016). Conclusions Adult cancer patients with COVID-19 infection are at higher risks of mortality if they presented with tachypnea, had a recent chemotherapy, history of CHF, high CRP, and high procalcitonin levels at presentation.
Study Objective: Adult cancer patients with COVID-19 were shown to be at higher risk of ICU admission. Previously published prediction models showed controversy and enforced the importance of heterogeneity among different populations studied. The aim of this study was to detect the predictors of ICU admission for adult COVID-19 patients with cancer who present to the emergency department (ED).Methods: Theis a retrospective cohort study. It was conducted on adult cancer patients older than 18 years who presented to the EDof the American University of Beirut MedicalCenter from February 21, 2020, till February 21, 2021, and were found to have COVID-19 infection. Relevant electronic data were extracted. The association between different variables and ICU admission was tested. Logistic regression was done to adjust for confounding variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Eighty-nine distinct patients were included. About 37% were admitted to the ICU (n=33). Higher ICU admission was seen in patients who had received chemotherapy within one month, had a respiratory rate at triage > 22 breaths per minute, an oxygen saturation < 95%, and/or a higher CRP upon presentation to the ED. After adjusting for confounding variables only recent chemotherapy and higher respiratory rate at triage were significantly associated with ICU admission. Conclusion: Physicians need to be vigilant when taking care of covid infected oncology patients. Patients who are tachypneic at presentation and those who have had chemotherapy within one month are at high risk for ICU admission.
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