COVID-19 AND CANCER IN CUBA

Rubio, Maria Caridad; Sanchez, Lizet; Abreu-Ruíz, Gisela; Bermejo-Bencomo, Walkiria; Crombet, Tania; Lage, Agustin

The COVID-19 pandemic has called attention to the contribution of comorbidities, including cancer and brought additional challenges to previously existing programs for cancer treatment and control. The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba was addressed through an integrated all-society action plan that to date has been largely successful with a low incidence of COVID-19 and mortality rates several-fold lower than worldwide averages. Despite downsizing many other health components all oncology services were maintained. Between March 11, when the first case was detected, until July 23, Cuba reported 2449 cases of COVID-19 that included 28 (1.14%) with a diagnosis of cancer. Distribution amongst cancer diagnoses did not deviate from that expected according to cancer epidemiology in Cuba. However, although the probability of getting infected with the coronavirus for a cancer patient (0.012%), was not higher than that of the general population (0.020%), nine of the 28 (32.1%) died, a lethality higher than that of COVID-19 patients without cancer (3.5%) a difference that is statistically significant (p<0.001). We argue that going forward scientific research on the relationship of aging, inflammation and cancer, including identification of biomarkers and the development of novel therapeutic interventions, should become one of the priorities in the post-COVID agenda of both oncologists and infectious disease scientists.