Quality of life in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic—A Danish cross-sectional study (COPICADS)

Three studies concluded that more than half of their participants expressed worry about being infected by the coronavirus and having a complicated course of COVID-19.

“Three studies concluded that more than half of their participants expressed worry about being infected by the coronavirus and having a complicated course of COVID-19 [21,22,24].”

Higher global quality of life, emotional function, and wellbeing was correlated with increasing age, specifically in patients aged > 60 years (p = 0.01).

“Higher global QoL, emotional function, and wellbeing was correlated with increasing age [22], specifically, in patients aged > 60 years (p = 0.01) [19,24].”

Pre- versus during COVID-19 pandemic comparisons by Jeppesen et al. and Koining et al. revealed that global quality of life and emotional functioning ascertained through EORTC QLQ-C30 were not significantly altered by the pandemic.

“Interestingly, pre- versus during COVID-19 pandemic comparisons conducted by Jeppesen et al. [22] and Koining et al. [23] revealed that the global QoL and emotional functioning ascertained through EORTC QLQ-C30 were not significantly altered by the pandemic, which can be considered clinically significant (MCID estimates of 5–14 points) [32].”

Being a woman (gender) was a risk factor for anxiety and distress induced by the pandemic (p < 0.03).

“Being a woman (gender) was a risk factor for anxiety and distress induced by the pandemic (p < 0.03) [20,22,23].”

Patients living alone (p < 0.05) fared poorer on psychosocial measures.

“Those with a cancer diagnosis of brain tumors, cervical cancers, and thoracic cancers (p-value < 0.05) [22]; those with several comorbidities [22]; patients receiving medical cancer treatment [21], especially those receiving oral treatment [25]; those living alone (p < 0.05), [22]; and those residing in city apartments (p = 0.01) [20] fared poorer on psychosocial measures [22].”

Older adults above the age of 65 had better quality of life scores and relatively fewer fears surrounding COVID-19 compared to their younger counterparts.

“Older adults above the age of 65 had better QoL scores and relatively fewer fears surrounding COVID-19 compared to their younger counterparts [20,22,23,26].”

9% of patients refrained from consulting a doctor or visiting the hospital due to fear of contracting the virus.

“with 9% of patients refraining from consulting a doctor or visiting the hospital due to fear of contracting the virus [22].”

Patients with a cancer diagnosis of brain tumors, cervical cancers, and thoracic cancers (p-value < 0.05) fared poorer on psychosocial measures.

“Those with a cancer diagnosis of brain tumors, cervical cancers, and thoracic cancers (p-value < 0.05) [22]; those with several comorbidities [22]; patients receiving medical cancer treatment [21], especially those receiving oral treatment [25]; those living alone (p < 0.05), [22]; and those residing in city apartments (p = 0.01) [20] fared poorer on psychosocial measures [22].”

Jeppesen et al. suggested that employed patients had a higher global quality of life score.

“Jeppesen et al. [22] suggested that employed patients had a higher global Qol score, while Baffert et al. [20] found the same in retired individuals (p = 0.04).”

Patients with several comorbidities fared poorer on psychosocial measures.

“Those with a cancer diagnosis of brain tumors, cervical cancers, and thoracic cancers (p-value < 0.05) [22]; those with several comorbidities [22]; patients receiving medical cancer treatment [21], especially those receiving oral treatment [25]; those living alone (p < 0.05), [22]; and those residing in city apartments (p = 0.01) [20] fared poorer on psychosocial measures [22].”