“Predictors of in-hospital mortality in adult cancer patients with COVID-19 infection presenting to the emergency department: A retrospective study”

BACKGROUND: Adult cancer patients are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality following COVID-19 infection. Being on the front lines, it is crucial for emergency physicians to identify those who are at higher risk of mortality. The aim of our study was to determine the predictors of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 positive cancer patients who present to the emergency department. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted on adult cancer patients who presented to the ED of the American university of Beirut medical center from February 21, 2020, till February 21, 2021, and were found to have COVID-19 infection. Relevant data was extracted and analyzed. The association between different variables and in-hospital mortality was tested using Student’s t test and Fisher’s exact test or Pearson’s Chi-square where appropriate. Logistic regression was applied to factors with p <0.2 in the univariate models. RESULTS: The study included 89 distinct patients with an average age of 66 years (± 13.6). More than half of them were smokers (52.8%) and had received chemotherapy within 1 month of presentation (52.8%). About one third of the patients died (n = 31, 34.8%). Mortality was significantly higher in patients who had recently received chemotherapy (67.7% vs 44.8%, p = .039), a history of congestive heart failure (CHF)(p = .04), higher levels of CRP (p = 0.048) and/or PCT(p<0.04) or were tachypneic in the ED (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Adult cancer patients with COVID-19 infection are at higher risks of mortality if they presented with tachypnea, had a recent chemotherapy, history of CHF, high CRP, and high procalcitonin levels at presentation.