Implications of Nurse-led Screening for COVID-19 in Patients Receiving Cancer Drug Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies have revealed the effects of COVID-19 and cancer treatment; however, data from patients receiving cancer drug therapy in Japan remain limited. This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics and symptoms of patients who developed COVID-19 during cancer drug therapy and obtain clues indicating COVID-19 infection from a preliminary interview by the nurses.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients undergoing cancer drug therapy who developed COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022 and visited a fever outpatient clinic for COVID-19 screening.

Results: In total, 599 patients were treated with cancer drug therapy, and 74 patients visited the fever outpatient clinic, of whom 12 tested positive for COVID-19, representing 2% of patients treated with cancer drug therapy. Eleven patients displayed initial COVID-19 symptoms; the mean time from COVID-19 diagnosis to resumption of cancer drug therapy was 35.5 (16–70) days. Male sex (p = 0.029), age <65 years, and the simultaneous occurrence of four or more initial cold-like symptoms with fever >38℃ (p = 0.026) were associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19.

Conclusions: Although it remains unclear whether anticancer therapy is a factor promoting COVID-19 infection, the prognostic impact of COVID-19 infection on cancer patients remains a concern. Nurses conducting telephone consultations and pre-examination interviews during anticancer drug therapy should exercise particular caution in cases involving males under 65 years of age who simultaneously exhibit four or more initial symptoms accompanied by a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher.