Impact of COVID-19 on Treatment in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Urology, JN Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research (Deemed-to-be-University), JNMC Campus, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi-590010, Karnataka, India.

2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, J N Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, JNMC Campus, Belagavi-590010, Karnataka, India.

3 KAHER’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Basic Science Research Centre, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

4 1Department of Urology, JN Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research (Deemed-to-be-University), JNMC Campus, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi-590010, Karnataka, India.

10.32592/ARI.2024.79.5.1091

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This pandemic has resulted in a major redistribution of health-care resources, with the treatment strategy advocated for oncology patients was to delay elective procedures. We retrospectively reviewed the impact of the COVID-19 on patients with RCC and their treatment protocol.
We retrospectively reviewed the inpatient and outpatient records of all patients presenting to us with renal cell carcinoma during the period March 2020 till end of March 2021.
During the study period, a total of 26 patients (21 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 55.46±9.44 years, were diagnosed to have an operable renal mass. The mean hospitalization period (15.19±2.28) increased in the patients that needed to undergo surgery. This delay was due to pre-operative testing using RT-PCR, chest HR-CT, fitness from chest physician and preparation. Overall cost of hospitalization increased in these patients compared to pre-COVID-19 period due to prolonged hospitalization, increased complications, pre-operative COVID-19 testing, using of personal protective gears and nursing care. During the same period 3 out of 8 patients who had metastatic disease with positive RT-PCR who are put on targeted therapy and the remaining underwent cytoreductive nephrectomy. The study concludes stating that the patients with RCC seeking treatment during this COVID-19 times face several hurdles in the form of delay in treatment, increased hospitalization, increased testing leading to increased cost of treatment. Long term follow-up is necessary to determine if these factors have affected the outcome in these patients.

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Main Subjects

References

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Archives of Razi Institute
Volume 79, Issue 5
September and October 2024
Pages 1091-1097

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