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COVID-19 increases death risk for cancer patients 16-fold, study saysCOVID-19 is no joke for tens of thousands of ill Americans, but a new report shows just how dangerous it can be for those already fighting cancer.
The study was based on an analysis of the health records of 212,000 people living with cancer. It found that a COVID-19 diagnosis raised a patient's odds of death 16-fold, compared to cancer patients without the coronavirus.
Cancer patients with COVID-19 were also more likely to have other health issues, such as kidney failure, obesity or heart disease -- all of which have also been tied to an increased risk for severe coronavirus illness.Compared to cancer patients without COVID-19, those with the illness were also more prone to requiring hospitalization and even the need for ventilator assistance to keep them alive, the study found.
The study was conducted at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Oncology Center of Excellence, or OCE, and released July 22 at an online meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
The data "revealed a stark reality that people with cancer are at an increased risk of more serious outcomes from COVID-19," said Dr. Harpreet Singh, associate director of Cancer in Older Adults and Special Populations at OCE."
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https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2020/07/23/COVID-19-increases-death-risk-for-cancer-patients-16-fold-study-says/7121595517466/
