Mobility as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 in cancer patients during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave
Ce dossier présente un ensemble d'articles concernant la prise en charge des cancers durant la crise sanitaire liée au COVID-19
Résumé en anglais
ABSTRACT We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their correlations with publicly available mobility data. Between 19 October 2020 and 28 February 2021, 4754 patient visits were carried out and 1454 treatments have been applied at the Haemato-Oncology Day Hospital Merano. Additional measures to prevent local SARS-CoV-2 transmission included a specific questionnaire for COVID-19 symptoms as well as a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR two days prior to any i.v./s.c. therapy. Community mobility was assessed through publicly available mobile phone tracking data from Google. 106/719 (14.7%) cancer patients have been tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR during the second wave compared to 5/640 (0.8%) within the first wave (p<0.001). 66/106 (62%) had solid tumors and 40/106 (38%) had haematological malignancies. 90/106 (85%) patients received ongoing anti-tumor therapies. Mortality rate of COVID-19 positive cancer patients (7/106; 6.6%) was higher compared to the overall population (731/46421; 1.6%; p<0.001). Strict control measures at our department led to a significantly lower test positivity rate compared to the general population, resulting in a reduction of 58.5% of new SARS-CoV-2 cases. Over time, infection rates and community mobility correlated in the first and second wave after initiating and lifting restrictions. Our findings underscore the importance of strict preventive control measures including testing and contact tracing in vulnerable subpopulations such as cancer patients, particularly if social restriction policies are being lifted. Smartphone-based mobility data may help to guide policy makers to prevent a vulnerable population like cancer patients from virus transmission. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
