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COVID-19 testing trends: pre-radiation and throughout cancer care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2022

Ian Messing Open the ORCID record for Ian Messing [Opens in a new window] ,
Miriam Felps ,
Sharad Goyal ,
Yuan James Rao ,
Katherine Schreiner ,
Diana Scully ,
Martin Ojong-Ntui  and
Minh-Phuong Huynh-Le
Ian Messing
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
Miriam Felps
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
Sharad Goyal
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
Yuan James Rao
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
Katherine Schreiner
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
Diana Scully
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
Martin Ojong-Ntui
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
Minh-Phuong Huynh-Le*
Affiliation:
The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA The George Washington University, Division of Radiation Oncology, Washington, DC, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Minh-Phuong Huynh-Le, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA. E-mail: mhuynhle@gmail.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

Patients presenting for radiation therapy (RT) at a single institution were analysed regarding treatment delays and disparities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods:

The study was conducted at an urban multidisciplinary cancer centre. In April 2020, the institution’s radiation oncology department implemented universal COVID-19 screening protocols prior to RT initiation. COVID-19 testing information on cancer patients planned for RT from 04/2020 to 01/2021 was reviewed. Trends of other lifetime COVID-19 testing and overall care delays were also studied.

Results:

Two hundred and fifty-four consecutive cancer patients received RT. Median age was 63 years (range 24–94) and 57·9% (n = 147) were Black. Most (n = 107, 42·1%) patients were insured through Medicare. 42·9% (n = 109) presented with stage IV disease. One (0·4%) asymptomatic patient tested positive for COVID-19 pre-RT. The cohort received 975 lifetime COVID-19 tests (median 3 per patient, range 1–18) resulting in 29 positive test results across 21 patients. Sixteen patients had RT delays. Identifying as Hispanic/Latino was associated with testing positive for COVID-19 (p = 0·015) and RT delay (p = 0·029).

Conclusion:

Most patients with cancer planned for RT tested negative for COVID-19 and proceeded to RT without delay. However, increased testing burden, delays in diagnostic workup and testing positive for COVID-19 may intensify disparities affecting this urban patient population.

Keywords

COVID-19radiation therapycancer
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 22 , 2023 , e32
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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