Prevalence, Survival, and Outcomes of 1,143 Cancer Patients with COVID-19 at Babol University of Medical Sciences: A Prospective Follow-up Cohort Study

Danial Fazilat-panah; Fahimeh Attarian; Masoomeh Karimi; Dariush Moslemi; Ali Shabestani Monfared; Atefe Rangani; Najme Radmard; Malihe Mohammadi; Shabnam Ashofte; Davoud Jahansouz

doi:10.31557/APJCC.2026.11.6.797

Authors

Danial Fazilat-panah Cancer Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Fahimeh Attarian MSc of Epidemiology, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.
Masoomeh Karimi Assistant Professor, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Dariush Moslemi Professor of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Ali Shabestani Monfared Cancer Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Atefe Rangani General Practitioner, Babol, Iran.
Najme Radmard Radiation Oncologist, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Malihe Mohammadi Radiation Oncologist, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Shabnam Ashofte Radiation Oncologist, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Davoud Jahansouz Radiation Oncologist, Cancer Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCC.2026.11.6.797

Keywords:

COVID-19, Neoplasm, Survival

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 infection is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a coronavirus that imposed a great burden on many countries. To date, the virus still takes lives in numbers, although the original pandemic is long gone. Cancer patients are among the most susceptible patients to COVID-19, either because of the virus itself or forced deviations in detection and treatment. Having no background data on long term survival, this study aims to investigate the 5-year survival of cancer patients based on their COVID-19 infection status.

Materials and Methods: In this single-center prospective follow-up cohort study from Babol Oncology Center, 1143 patients were evaluated for COVID-19 status and survival. The primary outcome was 5-year survival. The secondary outcomes were mortality by cancer type, year post-infection, and sex. COVID-19 status was tested with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and/or a CT scan.

Results: Of 1143 patients analyzed, 60% were female, and the mean age was 57.2 years old. Breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer. 10.8% of cases were COVID-19 positive, with a case fatality rate of 48/1000. Brain cancer showed the highest COVID-19–related case fatality rate. Adjusted for age and cancer type, COVID-19–negative patients showed a higher risk of death compared to COVID-19– positive patients (adjusted HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.15–2.73).

Conclusion: The observed survival differences are likely influenced by residual confounding, selection bias, and limitations in exposure ascertainment rather than a protective effect of COVID-19 infection.