We aimed to assess the prevalence rate (PR) of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, distress, and fear of cancer progression/recurrence among patients with cancer during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9538248

The prevalence of psychological disorders among cancer patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A meta‐analysis

/pdf/decision-conflicts-in-clinical-care-during-covid-19-a-3seg9sff.pdf

Decision Conflicts in Clinical Care during COVID-19: A Patient Perspective

http://www.ejoncologynursing.com/article/S1462388922001363/pdf

Experiences of cancer care in COVID-19: A longitudinal qualitative study

Simple Summary The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented changes to the life of patients with cancer. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and general well-being of patients with colorectal cancer by carrying out a prospective longitudinal questionnaire. We found that around one in four participants reported symptoms of anxiety and poor well-being, with 15% at risk of moderate to severe depression. Amongst others, those who were worried that the COVID-19 pandemic would have an effect on their mental health were most at risk of anxiety, depression, and poor well-being. Screening for the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients is essential to allow timely action from all key stakeholders in order to avoid potentially longer-term detrimental consequences. Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented changes to the lives of patients with cancer. To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of patients with colorectal cancer, we conducted a prospective longitudinal questionnaire study at a UK tertiary cancer centre. In total, 216 participants were included: mean age 65 years, 57% (n = 122) male, 92% (n = 198) of white ethnicity. Amongst participants who completed the screening psychometric questionnaire, 24% (n = 48/203) reported anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 5), 15% (n = 31/204) depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), 3% (n = 5/190) probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD-5 ≥ 4), and 31% (n = 66/213) poor well-being (WHO-5 < 50). In the subgroup (n = 95/216, 44%) who consented to and completed a follow-up survey 6 months later, there was a significant increase in the number of participants at risk of depression (4% vs. 13%, p = 0.021). Self-reported concern about the COVID-19 pandemic impacting one’s mental health is associated with increased likelihood of anxiety, depression, and poor well-being, in respective multivariate analyses. In conclusion, screening for the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to ensure timely action from all key stakeholders and to avoid potentially longer-term detrimental consequences.

/pdf/the-mental-health-burden-of-patients-with-colorectal-cancer-2nh305t2.pdf

The Mental Health Burden of Patients with Colorectal Cancer Receiving Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the PICO-SM Study

During the pandemic of COVID-19, people in many countries were under lock down in their own homes. Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients are important. However, we noted that the number of advanced cancer patients was slightly higher in 2020. We compared head and neck cancer patients who opted for BSC between 2017–2019 and 2020. In addition, we reviewed the number of head and neck cancer first-visit patients between 2017–2019 and 2020 at Kansai Medical University Hospital, and compared disease stage distribution of the patients, stage at first visit, and initial treatment strategy between 2017–19 and 2020. The number of first-visit patients in 2020 was lower as compared with that in 2017–2019. The disease stage distribution of patients was sililar between 2020 and 2017–2019. Among the first-visit patients, the percentage of patients treated by extended surgery was lower and the number of patients who opted for BSC was significantly higher in 2020 as compared with 2017–2019. The proportion of patients opting for active treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic could have been lower because of an increase in the incidence of depression. People's psychological state could be expected to deteriorate and affect their treatment choices during any global epidemic. © 2023 Society of Practical Otolaryngology. All rights reserved.

A Study on Head and Neck Cancer Patients Who Opted for Best Supportive Care Before and After the COVID-19 Epidemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health problems worldwide. The psychopathological implications of COVID-19 in cancer patients have rarely been addressed. Considering the increased vulnerability of oncology patients, this issue needs to be addressed to improve the long-term mental health status of these patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in outpatients under active cancer treatment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured 24-question survey was designed to measure baseline sociodemographic, psychosocial and COVID-19 exposure characteristics. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure psychological symptoms. A descriptive and analytical univariate analysis of the variables studied was performed. We used the Z-score to compare different populations (experimental and historical control cohort). Results: 104 patients were included, the majority of which were women (64.4%), were above 65 years of age (57.7%), had either lung and breast cancer (56.7%), had advanced disease (64%) and were undergoing chemotherapy (63.5%). 51% of them expressed greater fear of cancer than of COVID-19 infection or both. In relation to HADS, 52.8% of emotional distress, 42.3% of anxiety and 58.6% of depression rates were detected. The main factors related with higher rates of psychological symptomatology were history of previous psychotropic drug consumption and the adoption of additional infection prevention measures because they considered themselves at risk of severe COVID-19 infection (p = 0.008; p = 0.003 for emotional distress, p = 0.026; p = 0.004 for anxiety, and p = 0.013; p = 0.008 for depression). Tumor type, stage, oncologic treatment or rescheduling of cancer treatments were not related to higher levels of psychological symptomatology. Comparison of our results with another population of similar characteristics was not significant (Z score = -1.88; p = 0.060). Conclusions: We detected high rates of emotional distress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among cancer patients in active treatment (52.8%). This was higher and clinically relevant than observed in a comparable population (42.5%), although not significant. Cancer itself is the main factor of concern for cancer patients, above and beyond the emotional distress generated by COVID-19 pandemic.

María Pilar López Martí

Papers

Emotional Distress in Cancer Patients During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.