Long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with cancer

• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-024-03726-9
• Publication Date: 2024-07-03T16:05:46Z
• Authors: Yana Debie; Ziyad Palte; Haya Salman; Lise Verbruggen; Greetje Vanhoutte; Siddharth Chhajlani; Silke Raats; Ella Roelant; Timon Vandamme; Marc Peeters; Peter A. van Dam
• Keywords: myalgia; Depression; Pandemic

Abstract Introduction: Long COVID is defined as the continuation of symptoms, unexplainable by alternative diagnosis, longer than four weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. These symptoms might hinder daily activities and overall well-being, ultimately impacting quality life (QoL). Several studies have reported fatigue most common symptom, followed dyspnoea, headache myalgia. Although it assumed that long affects 10–20% infected individuals, recently numbers up to 60% were described for patients with cancer. This study uncovers impact COVID-19 pandemic on QoL cancer how manifests in this cohort. Methods: A group 96 was from March 2022 till 2023. Online questionnaires assessing associated COVID, anxiety depression (HADS), (EORTC-QLQ-C30) cognitive functioning (CFQ) sent every three months during period. Furthermore, a semi-structured focus organised qualitative data collection. Results: Overall, these negative enforced restrictions emotional psychological wellbeing. Forty nine (51.0%) over course study, which 39 (79.6%) symptoms. The commonly myalgia (46.2%), (38.5%) disturbed sleep (35.9%) observed male sex poor outcomes. Conclusion: While experience similar healthy controls, prevalence remarkably higher possibly due their compromised immune system weakened physiological reserve.