Are the frequency and severity of COVID-19 infection higher in cancer patients than in the general population?

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether cancer increases the frequency and severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 641 cases were included in this study, comprising 425 cancer cases and 216 non-cancer cases. The non-cancer subjects were spouses and first-degree relatives of cancer patients, all residing in the same household as the cancer subjects included in the study.

Results: In both the patient and the control groups, the history of COVID-19 infection and disease severity were evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of COVID-19 infection between cancer and control groups (30.3% vs. 24.6%, p = 0.133). Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer cases regarding the frequency of COVID-19 infection (36% vs. 29%, p = 0.236). The frequency of COVID-19 infection was also comparable between vaccinated cancer patients and vaccinated control subjects (p = 0.108). No statistically significant difference was observed between the cancer patients and control groups in terms of disease severity among patients with COVID-19 (p = 0.406). Regression analysis showed that age ≥65 years and vaccination were significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 infection. Cancer group and gender were not found to have an independent association with COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion: This study found no difference in the frequency or severity of COVID-19 infection between the cancer and control group. Additionally, older age and vaccination were protective factors against COVID-19, while cancer status did not appear to affect the risk of infection.