Long-COVID in Patients with Cancer Previously Treated with Early Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Therapies in an Out-of-Hospital Setting: A Single-Center Experience

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This article regards the incidence of long COVID symptoms in a cohort of patients with cancer with or without previous treatment with early therapies anti-SARS-CoV-2 in an out-of-hospital setting. The enrolled patients were invited to take part in the survey by telephone at least 12 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis in order to evaluate the incidence of long COVID symptoms. To date, no papers have focused on the oncological population managed at home with the early anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies. The overlap between the symptoms related to the oncological disease/oncological treatment and the symptoms of long COVID is one of the main future challenges that oncologists will have to manage. ABSTRACT: The incidence of long COVID in a cohort of patients with cancer with or without previous treatment with early therapies anti-SARS-CoV-2 in an out-of-hospital setting have to be elucidated. We prospectively enrolled all patients treated for a solid tumor at the department of Medical Oncology of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen or polymerase chain reaction test from January to September 2022 (Omicron surge). Ninety-seven patients answered the survey questions by telephone at least 12 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis in order to evaluate the incidence of long COVID symptoms. Only twelve patients (12.4%) reported long COVID. No significant difference between early therapies anti-SARS-CoV-2 31 and long COVID (p = 0.443) was seen. The female sex (p = 0.024) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.014) are significantly associated with long COVID. No statistically significant difference between the two groups (Long COVID vs. No Long COVID) according to the time to nasal swab viral clearance (p = 0.078). The overlap between the symptoms related to the oncological disease/oncological treatment and the symptoms of long COVID is one of the main future challenges that oncologists will have to manage.