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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807810
Impact of Covid-19 on Brazilian oncology patients: an analysis in Southeast Minas Gerais
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as oncology patients. Understanding the epidemiological and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in this group is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Our study analyzed its impact on Brazilian oncology patients.
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the epidemiological and clinical outcomes of 125 oncology patients with COVID-19 treated at the Cancer Hospital from 2020 to 2022. Data on tumor types, mortality, and associated factors were collected and analyzed. The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on hospitalization and mortality among these patients was also assessed.
Results: The most common tumor types were breast cancer and cancers of the hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial systems. Mortality among oncology patients with COVID-19 was significantly higher compared to those who died from cancer-related causes, emphasizing the severity of the infection in Brazilian oncology patients. COVID-19 exhibited a higher lethality in cancers of unknown primary sites (metastatic cancer), bronchi and lungs, and bladder. Factors such as age, education level, and smoking history were significantly associated with mortality. A notable association was also found between COVID-19 vaccination and hospitalization among cancer patients. Vaccination not only reduced hospitalizations but also contributed to the survival of cancer patients.
Conclusion: These findings indicate the critical importance of vaccination in cancer patients to mitigate the adverse impacts of COVID-19 in this vulnerable population.
Corresponding author: Sérgio Gomes da Silva (e-mail: sergio.silva@fcv.org.br).
No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publication History
Article published online:
06 May 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Sérgio Gomes da Silva, Alice Muglia Amancio, Bruno Licy Gomes da Mello. Impact of Covid-19 on Brazilian oncology patients: an analysis in Southeast Minas Gerais. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807810