Generally speaking, data indicate that adult cancer patients and those who have recently received or are receiving anti-cancer therapy are at a higher risk of severe outcomes and death resulting from COVID-19 compared to those without cancer. However, more data are beginning to elucidate the nuances of these risks depending on patient specific factors.
Limited data indicate that pediatric cancer patients are not at a high level of risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Limited evidence indicates some differences in the course and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection depending on the type of immunosuppressive therapy a patient receives.
Key Findings
Generally speaking, data indicate that adult cancer patients and those who have recently received or are receiving anti-cancer therapy are at a higher risk of severe outcomes and death resulting from COVID-19 compared to those without cancer.
Pediatric cancer populations may not be at the same level of risk as adult populations.
There is not enough evidence at this time to determine if there are differences in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients receiving chemotherapy vs. those who are not aside from outcomes and severity.
Vanstone, J; Groot, G; Miller, L; Mueller, M. What are the differences in the clinical course of COVID-19 between patients undergoing chemotherapy and otherwise healthy individuals? 2021 Jan 22; Document no.: EOC062201v2 RR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 5 p. (CEST rapid review report)
Vanstone, J; Groot, G; Miller, L; Mueller, M. What are the differences in the clinical course of COVID-19 between patients undergoing chemotherapy and otherwise healthy individuals? 2021 Jan 22; Document no.: EOC062201v2 RR Table. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 5 p. (CEST table)
Miller, L.; Mueller, M. What are the differences in the clinical course of COVID-19 between patients undergoing chemotherapy and otherwise healthy individuals? 2021 Jan 4; Document no.: EOC062201v2 ESR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 46 p. (CEST evidence search report)
· The significance of rhinorrhea as a presenting/predictive clinical feature of COVID-19 is unclear at this time with rates ranging from as low as 2% to as high as 60% in the published literature
· Rhinorrhea generally associated with less severe disease
· No reports of sneezing as a clinical symptom of COVID-19
Badea, A; Groot, G; Howell-Spooner, B; Young, C. What is the evidence that runny nose or sneezing are symptoms of COVID-19? 2020 Sep 29; Document no.: EOC092401 RR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 16 p. (CEST rapid review report)
Young, C; Howell-Spooner, B. What is the evidence that runny nose or sneezing are symptoms of COVID-19? 2020 Sep 25; Document no.: EOC092401-01 ESR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 37 p. (CEST evidence search report)
There is a growing body of research related to clinical characteristics and prognostic factors associated with COVID-19-related outcomes.
The risk of severe COVID-19 infection and mortality increases with advancing age, male sex and presence of comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Information is limited about some risk factors such as smoking exposure, racial/ethnic identity that could contribute to better understanding of risk stratification and support early intervention.
Williams-Roberts, H; Groot, G; Dalidowicz, M; Young, C; Mueller, M. What are the risk factors for severity and death associated with COVID-19? 2020 May 17; Document no.: EPM050901 RR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 14 p. (CEST rapid review report)
Williams-Roberts, H; Groot, G; Dalidowicz, M; Young, C; Mueller, M. What are the risk factors for severity and death associated with COVID-19? 2020 May 17; Document no.: EPM050901 RR Table. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. (CEST table)
Dalidowicz, M; Young, C; Mueller, M. What are the risk factors for severity and death associated with COVID-19? 2020 May 12; Document no.: EPM050901-01 ESR. In: COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Reviews [Internet]. SK: SK COVID Evidence Support Team, c2020. 48 p. (CEST evidence search report)