OBJECTIVE: Post-COVID symptoms are frequent and can be debilitating, particularly in individuals with cancer. However, their impact on this population remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively assess the symptoms and impairments following COVID-19 hospitalization in patients with cancer, focusing on fatigue, nutritional status, speech and swallowing, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.
METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included cancer survivors hospitalized with COVID-19 between June and December 2020. We assessed symptoms and impairments related to fatigue, independence in activities of daily living, speech and swallowing, voice, nutritional risk, anxiety/depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The participants were assessed at discharge and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
RESULTS: A total of 51 participants were included in the study. At the time of discharge, 98% had at least one of the following impairments: fatigue (68.6%), anxiety/depressive symptoms (17.7%), voice and speech impairments (19.6%), dysphagia (21.6%), or nutritional risk (45.1%). By one year, impairments persisted in 66% of the sample: fatigue (34.2%), anxiety/depressive symptoms (19.5%), voice and speech impairments (12.2%), and dysphagia (17.1%), with no participants remaining at nutritional risk. The participants reported no significant limitations in their daily living activities.
CONCLUSION: Cancer survivors hospitalized for COVID-19 presented with high levels of fatigue, nutritional risk, anxiety/depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at discharge, with improvements in fatigue and nutrition after one year.
BACKGROUND: ■ High fatigue and nutritional risk at discharge improved over one year in cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND: ■ Psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, remained prevalent for one year.
BACKGROUND: ■ 66% of patients had lasting symptoms or impairments after 12 months of follow-up.
BACKGROUND: ■ Nutritional risk was resolved in the following year. A prospective study of 51 cancer survivors hospitalized for COVID-19 revealed high initial levels of fatigue, nutritional risk, anxiety/depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, with impairments persisting in 66% of patients after 1 year. Nutritional risk was resolved; however, psychological, and physical symptoms remained prevalent and required continuous care.
