Background The objectives of this study were to examine benefits and consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic for patients diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers. Methods A 23‐item questionnaire assessing COVID‐19‐related issues, the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐2, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)‐4 were administered to patients diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers. Results Of the 161 patients and 78 caregivers who participated, 38.1% and 32.8 were male, 95% and 84.6% Caucasian, and the mean age was 66 and 64.6 years, respectively. A total of 16.5% and 15.2% reported depressive symptoms, 18.4% and 19% reported anxiety; 35.5% and 26.6% reported poor sleep quality, and 66% and 63.3% scored one standard deviation above the norms for the PSS, respectively. Predictors of poorer patient‐ and caregiver‐reported outcomes included greater loneliness, worry about self or family being infected by the COVID‐19, and worsening relationships with family. The fear of COVID‐19 led to 20.8% of patients and 24.4% of family caregivers cancelling medical appointments, procedures, and treatments. A total of 52.5% of patients and 53.2% caregivers reported that the pandemic led to benefit finding but these changes were not associated with any of the measured patient‐ or caregiver‐related outcomes. Conclusions Psychological functioning for patients and caregivers was similar to that of pre‐pandemic levels, however the decrease in health care utilization secondary to fear of COVID‐19 was notable. While there were many negative effects of the pandemic, the majority of patients and caregivers reported some benefit to the pandemic.

No abstract

No abstract

e24124 Background: The aims of this study were to examine; the predictors of perceived stress; and the associations between perceived stress and tumor growth and development of metastases as well as the mediational role of inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: This study is prospective in design. A battery of questionnaires, including a sociodemographic characteristic and the Perceived Stress Scale, was collected at baseline from patients diagnosed with solid tumors at various stages of treatment. Disease progression was measured over a 12-month period. Poverty threshold was determined using the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 2020 poverty guidelines. Computerized tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans were assessed for disease progression between baseline and 12 months using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Blood was collected and serum levels of IL-2, IL-1a, IL-1b, TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-8 were assessed. The predictors of stress include sociodemographic and disease specific characteristics. Primary outcomes were tumor growth and development of metastases. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and ordinal and linear regression were performed to assess the aims. Results: Of 159 patients diagnosed with cancer, 47.8% were male, mean age was 62.97 (SD = 10.35), 89.3% were Caucasian, and 13.8% met poverty guidelines. Significant predictors of stress were age (b=-.151, p=0.029, 95% C.I.=-2.86-.016) and income below the poverty threshold (b= 5.615, p=0.007, 95% C.I.=1.596-9.635). Gender was the only sociodemographic and disease specific factor significantly associated with disease progression. After adjusting for gender, greater perceived stress was associated with tumor growth and development of metastases (p =0.029), accounting for 33.3% of the variance. Circulating cytokines were significantly related to disease progression [IL-1a, p=0.020; IL-1b, p=0.011; IL-6, p<0.001; and IL-8, p<0.001] but not stress [IL-1a, p=0.369; IL-1b p=0.292; IL-2, p=0.470; IL6 p=0.406; and IL8, p=0.401]. Conclusions: Future research should evaluate inflammation in the tumor microenvironment as well as neutrophils and tumor suppressor genes as potential mediators between stress and disease progression.