ORAL CHANGES AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF COVID-19 IN ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentations and oral alterations in cancer patients diagnosed with COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with 20 oncology patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Oncological data, presence of comorbidities, and symptoms related to COVID-19 were collected, and a clinical examination of the oral cavity was performed during hospitalization in order to identify oral changes. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 53 years, most of whom were female. Solid tumors represented 90%, the uterus being the most frequent region. Most patients were not undergoing cancer treatment at the time of contamination (50%). Systemic arterial hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity (30%), followed by Diabetes Mellitus (25%). No patient was admitted to the ICU or required mechanical ventilation, the average length of stay was 13 days, and all received hospital discharge. Cough and hypogeusia were among the most frequent symptoms. Hyposalivation and fungal infection were the most frequently observed oral alterations. CONCLUSION: Oral changes in oncological patients are in line with the findings from the literature, while the clinical presentation was contrary to the evidence that points to the oncological disease as a factor suggestive of a worse clinical condition in the face of COVID-19.