How COVID-19 pandemic has changed haematological care

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background</jats:bold> : Datas from China suggest that patients with cancer have more severe outcome in case of covid-19 infection. Patients with haematological disease have often immunosuppression, due to the underlying disease and to their treatment. <jats:bold>Methods</jats:bold>: We recorded the consecutive patients usually treated in our haematology department diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between March 10th to April 30th. To evaluate the impact of the pandemic, we compare the activity of our department during two twenty working-days periods: March 20th to April 17th (“Covid month”) and February 18th to March 16th 2020 (“Covid-free month”). <jats:bold>Results</jats:bold>: Fifty patients treated in our haematology department had a COVID-19 infection, diagnosed with PCR or CT-scanner. Half of them were still on chemotherapy treatment, 30% were on survey after treatment and 20% were on a “watch and wait” strategy. Sixteen patients ( 30%) evolved to an acute respiratory syndrome with a fatal outcome in ten cases. (20%). The severity of the disease prompted us to change the organization of our department to protect our patients. We followed international recommendation and delayed non urgent procedure. this allowed a reduction of 10% of our activity. Moreover, we managed to treat 25% of our patients coming usually in outpatient clinic with tele-health. Thanks to hospital-at-home, these patients could receive their treatment and stay safe at home. <jats:bold>Conclusion</jats:bold>: This retrospective study give an insight of how covid-19 outbreak will change cancer care.</jats:p>