Solicitousness Towards Elderly Oncology Patients During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Viewpoint

Abstract

COVID-19 has been declared as public health emergency. The severity of this illness seems more peculiar in patients having compromised physiological reserves like elderly, infants, pregnant women and in those with preexisting or uncontrolled comorbidities. The elderly patients, in particular, have additional risks which are related to both malignancy and ageing, hence such an infection could be life-threatening. Further, the available clinical experiences have shown that cancer patients with COVID-19 infection have more severe illness with very serious complications that may require intensive care. Hence, taken together into account it becomes pertinent to highlight on elderly oncology patients during the COVID-19 crisis. The viewpoint thus, takes into consideration the association and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on elderly oncology patients and also emphasises on possible treatment alterations to be adapted, during the COVID-19 crisis.