Evaluation of Clinical, Laboratory and Treatment Findings of Oncology Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Objectives: The knowledge of the possible differences in the clinical course of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients receiving treatment has not been sufficient to conclude. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated lymphocyte counts, LDH levels, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratios (PLR), CRP albumin ratios (CRP/Alb), LDH/ albumin ratios in COVID-19 infected cancer patients actively treated in our clinic. Methods: Cancer patients who were currently under treatment in Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University during the period between September 2020 and April 2021 were included in the study. During the period, 1363 stage 3-4 patients were received parenteral treatment and 60 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Results: The median age of the patients was 60 years (range 19-82 years). Stage of cancer (p=0.028), lymphopenia (p<0.001), elevated LDH (p=0.002), elevated NLR (p<0.001); and elevated LDH/Alb ratios (p<0.001) were identified as the factors affecting mortality. Conclusion: In patients actively under treatment for cancer, clinical course of COVID-19 infection was found to be af- fected by the stage of the cancer, neutrophil lymphocyte ratios and by LDH/albumin ratios. We think that neutrophil lymphocyte ratios and LDH/albumin ratios are the important prognostic markers in the course of COVID-19 infection in cancer patients.