A study on self-reported outcomes of breast cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing during the COVID-19 pandemic

BAI Lixiao; LI Jiayi; WANG Xiaobo; DONG Yinping; LI Liangying; YANG Ailing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1007-8134.2023.05.012

Abstract：Objective To investigate breast cancer patients who sought medical care at a single hospitals in Beijing during the COVID-19 pandemic,and to understand their self-reported COVID-19 symptoms and potential related factors.The goal is to provide insights and references for how breast cancer patients can cope with potential re-infection of the COVID-19 virus in the post-pandemic era.Methods A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect 538 breast cancer patients who sought medical care at a certain 3A-grade hospitala in Beijing from December 28,2022 to January 6,2023.The clinical manifestations and possible related factors of breast cancer patients infected with novel coronavirus were investigated to describe the COVID-19 symptoms of breast cancer patients during the"influenza-like"period of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results There were 432 cases(80.3％)reported COVID-19 symptoms among 538 breast cancer patients,of which 357 cases(86.8％)were fever,followed by 279 cases(64.6％)of cough/expectoration,271 cases(62.7％)of fatigue,246 cases(56.9％)of dry throat/sore throat/itchy throat,234 cases(54.2％)of muscle/joint pain,212 cases(49.07％)of dizziness/headache,209 cases(48.38％)of anorexia,196 cases(45.37％)of nasal congestion and runny nose.The first symptom was mainly fever in 248 cases(57.4％).Among 538 breast cancer patients in this survey,273 patients had recurrence and metastasis,accounting for 50.74％,and 204 people recieved COVID-19 vaccination,accounting for 37.92％.Conclusion The self-reported symptoms of breast cancer patients infected with COVID-19 are mainly fever,cough,fatigue,muscle joint pain,dizziness,etc.