Commentary: Should all cancer patients be tested for COVID-19 before each chemotherapy cycle?
Emre YekedüzGüngör UtkanYuksel UrunPublished in: Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (2021)
Cancer patients under active chemotherapy are more vulnerable to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). There are still some controversies regarding routine polymerase chain reaction testing of asymptomatic cancer patients before chemotherapy cycles. Despite a lack of data, Al-Shamsi et al. showed higher COVID-19 positivity rate among asymptomatic cancer patients. Furthermore, mortality rate was higher in this group of patients. There is no high evidence-based recommendation from the cancer societies for testing asymptomatic patients before each chemotherapy cycle. In this commentary, we assessed the current publications and guidelines regarding this issue.
Keyphrases
- coronavirus disease
- end stage renal disease
- sars cov
- ejection fraction
- chronic kidney disease
- locally advanced
- newly diagnosed
- clinical practice
- prognostic factors
- cardiovascular disease
- type diabetes
- squamous cell carcinoma
- peritoneal dialysis
- data analysis
- patient reported outcomes
- young adults
- electronic health record