EP06.01-005 COVID-19 and Post-COVID Outcomes in Lung Cancer Patients: Experience from an Indian Cancer Center

IntroductionPatients with lung cancer appear to be at higher risk of COVID-19 related complications and mortality. There is limited data on COVID-19 outcomes in lung cancer patients, particularly from India. Studies have rarely included post-COVID morbidity and mortality in cancer patients.MethodsIn this single center study, a prospectively maintained database of lung cancer patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between May 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021 was used to assess the outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. 30-day post-COVID mortality was assessed in patients who recovered.ResultsA total of 54 lung cancer patients with COVID-19 were identified (mean [SD] age, 61.8 [8.5] years; 20.4% women, 79.6% men), of whom 74.1% had advanced stage disease. Recent treatment (within 30 day preceding COVID-19 diagnosis) was received by 77.8% of the patients (53.7% with systemic chemotherapy, 23.8% with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and 5.6% with immune-checkpoint inhibitors). Patients requiring hospitalization and ICU admission were 59.3% and 16.7% respectively. In-hospital mortality during the same admission was 24.1%. Total mortality including the 30-day post discharge period was 40.7%, while in 18.5% patients there was no further follow up after discharge from hospital. Cancer progression was detected in 11.1% of patients and 29.6% had performance status (PS) decline making them ineligible for further systemic anticancer therapy. Among various factors tested only progressive disease (PD) in the last response evaluation preceding COVID-19 diagnosis was associated with mortality (p=0.005).ConclusionsLung cancer patients with COVID-19 infection had a high rate of complications and mortality. Patients with progressive lung cancer diagnosed with COVID 19 were at higher risk of death. Mortality, cancer progression, and PS decline were also high in this group of patients in a 30-day period following COVID-19 recovery.KeywordsCOVID-19, Lung Cancer, Mortality IntroductionPatients with lung cancer appear to be at higher risk of COVID-19 related complications and mortality. There is limited data on COVID-19 outcomes in lung cancer patients, particularly from India. Studies have rarely included post-COVID morbidity and mortality in cancer patients.