Cancer survivors in the United States showed high compliance with recommended preventative behaviors for COVID-19, according to an analysis of the COVID-19 Impact Survey presented at the AACR COVID-19 and Cancer Conference.
Results also showed that cancer survivors experienced interruptions to continuity of care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular impact seen among young adults, women and individuals living in rural areas.
Cancer survivors — who tend to be of older age and are often treated with immunosuppressive agents — face a higher risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. In an attempt to reduce the risk of exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended cancer survivors cancel nonessential medical appointments. However, doing so may lead to an interruption in continuity of care, as well as decreases in surveillance.
Jessica Yasmine Islam, PhD, MPH, postdoctoral research fellow at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues sought to determine rates of compliance with preventative recommendations among US cancer survivors, and to observe factors associated with these behaviors changes.
The researchers accessed data from 4428 adults collected during weeks 1 (April 20-26, 2020) and 3 (May 4-10, 2020) of the COVID-19 Impact Survey. Cancer survivors were defined as individuals who self-reported a previous cancer diagnosis.
The researchers used χ2 tests to compare behaviors among cancer survivors with those in the general population.
Self-reported cancer survivors tended to be aged older than 60 years (62%), of female sex (53%), non-Hispanic white ethnicity (62%) and to reside in urban areas (72%).
Cancer survivorship was associated with stricter self-reported adherence to COVID-19 preventative measures, including social distancing (92%; χ2 P = .005), wearing face coverings (89%; χ2 P = .001) and avoiding crowded areas (84%; χ2 P = .048).
Cancer survivors canceled doctor’s appointments at a higher rate than the general population (44%; χ2 P = .001). However, the researchers observed a lower likelihood of canceling other social activities, such as those connected to work (20%; χ2 P = .001) or school (12%; χ2 P = .002). This included survivors aged younger than 60 years.
Despite these precautions, cancer survivors had a higher likelihood of reporting COVID-19 symptoms within the most recent 7-day period, including muscle and body aches (χ2 P = .003).
The frequency of canceled medical appointments among cancer survivors rose between April (35%) and May (52%).
Non-Hispanic Black cancer survivors showed a lower likelihood of canceling medical appointments than non-Hispanic whites. Factors associated with higher cancelation rates included age between 18 and 29 years, female sex and residence in rural areas.
