Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) evolved into a worldwide pandemic leading to devastating complications. In healthcare, significant changes were made to reallocate resources to cater to an increasing number of hospital admissions and prevent infection spread. Reallocation of the health care staff led to the scarcity of care in outpatient facilities, including infusion centers, until the widespread adoption of Telehealth. Treating lung cancer patients with immunochemotherapy and radiotherapy has been incredibly challenging due to the pandemic, especially in regard to balancing malignancy treatment with limiting exposure of vulnerable patients to acute lifethreatening infection. In addition, being unable to provide appropriate treatment to cancer patients can result in decreased functional capacity, loss of treatment window, and increased mortality. A multidisciplinary approach can prevent these outcomes by anticipating challenges early and streamlining resources appropriately to provide better patient care. In this study, we aimed to assess the adherence of NCCN guidelines for lung cancer at a community hospital in Philadelphia during the pandemic. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients diagnosed and receiving active treatment for primary lung cancer between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, at Mercy Catholic Medical Center. Fifty cases of primary lung cancer undergoing active treatment were identified. Type and staging of lung cancer, NCCN guidelines' adherence, COVID-19 exposure, and missed treatments were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Of the 50 cases reviewed, 92% had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and 8% had small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Among NSCLC, 72% had adenocarcinoma, 12% had squamous cell carcinoma, and 8% had large cell carcinoma. Stage IV lung cancer consisted of 46%, followed by 34% of stage I, 14% of stage III, and 6% of stage II. NCCN guideline-directed treatment was initiated in 88% (44/50) of the total patients, with the remaining 12% of the patients either refusing treatment (8%) or were lost to followup (4%). COVID-19 infection was diagnosed in 35% of the patients, of which 60% missed less than two chemotherapy sessions and 40% of COVID-19 positive patients who required hospitalization missed more than two cycles. 28% of patients missed treatment sessions due to other factors. This resulted in 61% (27/44) of patients having a disruption in NCCN guidelinedirected treatment at some point during the pandemic. Conclusions: Our study results reflect upon the need for developing effective strategies in managing cancer patients. When possible, switching to oral regimens, redefining regimen administration intervals, postponing invasive investigations for asymptomatic patients, and utilizing telemedicine as appropriate should be considered.
Assessment of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline adherence for lung cancer in a community teaching hospital during COVID-19 pandemic