Examining the effects of COVID-19 on cancer patients presenting to the emergency department

This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on cancer patients admitted to the emergency department. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, retrospective archive records of 617 cancer patients who presented to the emergency department in Kırklareli between March 2020 and December 2022 were examined. Data, based on the International Classification of Diseases via the Hospital Information Management System, for patients who underwent pneumonia evaluation according to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and Thorax Computed Tomography (CT), were systematically recorded into the database. The study group consisted of 50.1% males, with a median age of 69 years (range 21-95). Within this group, 11.8% were RT-PCR (+) and 7.6% were diagnosed with pneumonia based on CT. The frequency of pneumonia diagnosis based on CT was found to be statistically significantly higher in males (p<0.001), those with respiratory system cancer (p<0.001), those with MMS cancer (p<0.001), those with metastasis (p=0.039), those receiving radiotherapy (p=0.027), those with COPD (p=0.046), those admitted in 2020 (p<0.001), and those presenting with complaints of cough (p<0.001), myalgia (p=0.018), dyspnea (p<0.001), or CNS symptoms (p=0.044). Furthermore, patients with higher levels of WBC, NE (10*9/L), NE (%), AST, and CRP (p<0.01) compared to those in the normal category; those with lower levels of LYM (%), creatinine, sodium, potassium, and chloride (p<0.01); and those in the diabetes group based on glucose levels (p<0.001), showed a statistically significantly higher frequency of pneumonia diagnosis based on CT. The frequency of pneumonia diagnosis based on CT was also significantly higher in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients (p<0.001). No significant differences were determined between patients' descriptive characteristics, COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis-related features, hemogram and biochemical parameters, and RT-PCR results (p>0.05). In conclusion, the development of pneumonia in cancer patients admitted to the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic was found to be associated with various factors. It is recommended that CT and biochemical parameters be evaluated together with RT-PCR for diagnosis.