Informatics ApproachesInnovation COVID-19 and cancer – changing impact of the pandemic on cancer outcomes

Two new papers from NIHR Imperial BRC researchers have highlighted how the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients has changed through the pandemic.

The OnCovid registry is a study looking at thousands of patients who are receiving treatment for cancer and had a confirmed case of COVID-19, to understand severity and track outcomes.

In the first of the two new papers published this week, Dr David Pinato and colleagues have shown that outcomes in the short- and medium-term improved as the pandemic progressed, most likely as a result of enhanced testing capacity, improved disease management , health care system response and dynamic changes in community transmission.

The second paper looked at the medium- and long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in these patients and found that up to 15% experienced post-COVID-19 symptoms. Furthermore, these symptoms impacted treatment regimens, though this did not correlate with poorer outcomes.

More information on this NIHR Imperial BRC funded study can be found here

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