Cancer patients faced with increased economic, social and psychological consequences of COVID-19

Cancer patients regularly face the economic, social, and psychological consequences exacerbated by COVID-19.With new research Was announced in Supportive care for cancerResearchers reviewed approaches to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on cancer patients.

“Cancer patients were particularly vulnerable [the pandemic’s] Given the dependence on the health care system and weakened immunity, it has a negative effect. ” Ann KirbyUniversity College Cork, Ireland, Cork University Business School, Ph.D. in Economics.

Researchers conducted a systematic review to investigate the social, psychological, and economic impacts of pandemics on cancer patients, capturing the early experiences of pandemics with strict restrictions around the world. I included it.

The review included 56 studies, 96% of which were from a single country. Overall, 20% of the studies came from the United States and 27% from Europe (especially 18% from Italy). The study primarily included patients with multiple cancer types (64%), followed by 18% focusing on breast cancer.

The social and psychological effects of COVID-19 on the cancer patients reviewed included anxiety, fear, distress, anxiety, depression, social isolation and loneliness. In the study, there was growing fear that the cancer might relapse or progress due to delays or confusion in care.

The patient was also afraid to get infected with COVID-19. In a study of patients in Italy, 37.3% of cancer patients were very or very afraid to go to the hospital and were very or completely afraid to get infected with COVID-19, 24.5%. I was very or completely afraid that it was more important to protect against COVID-19 than to continue the cancer. Care.

Some patients were willing to postpone or postpone cancer treatment, but patients prioritized cancer treatment primarily for fear of being infected with COVID-19. According to the authors, intentional delays in appointments are associated with anxiety about depression and cancer progression, and delays in post-treatment follow-up or palliative care exacerbate these feelings. rice field.

As a result of stay-at-home orders, quarantine, and fear of infection, many studies have highlighted the social isolation and loneliness experienced by cancer patients. For example, young cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 39 reported feeling more isolated than they were before the pandemic.

“Some patients are aware of the risk of COVID-19 infection, so they have no visitors and are involved in the extreme levels of social isolation of living alone,” Kirby and her co-authors explain. did. “For others, the pandemic has exacerbated the underlying situation.”

In addition, the financial burden many cancer patients feel during a pandemic was indignant. Patients in the United States saved time and money by moving to telemedicine, but treatment changes cost more to patients in Jordan, the authors found. In countries that require negative COVID-19 test results to attend appointments, patients faced additional costs that influence the decision to receive cancer treatment for some patients, especially those in poorer countries.

The authors said the review only included studies from the first wave of the pandemic, so it adopted a short-term perspective. In addition, data collection throughout the study is diverse, many people are using online methods, and may have excluded patients who have experienced technology barriers.

“Identifying the effects of COVID-19 on cancer patients from a post-pandemic psychological, social, and economic perspective is a timely and appropriate intervention to address the untreated portion of cancer treatment and promote recovery. And can inform the design of support. ” Cartby and her collaborator. “The long-term and economic consequences of cancer patients cannot be easily quantified, but they are real and need further assistance to mitigate the problems faced by cancer patients.”