The official French guidelines to protect patients with cancer against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Cet article français commente les recommandations du Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique pour protéger les patients atteints d’un cancer d’une infection par le coronavirus tout en maintenant la possibilité des traitements anticancéreux
On request of the French Health Ministry, the French High Council for Public health (Haut Conseil de Santé Publique [HCSP]) entrusted a representative group of French medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, working across academic and private practice, with the task of preparing guidelines to protect patients with cancer against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, while maintaining the possibility of cancer treatment. After finalisation of the guidelines on March 10, 2020, the coordinator of the group (BY) was interviewed by HCSP on March 11, 2020. The guidelines were adopted and published by HCSP on March 14, 2020. The preparation of these guidelines is justified by data suggesting patients with cancer are at high risk of respiratory complications related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The susceptibility of patients with cancer to influenza was described before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. For patients with cancer infected with influenza, the risk of hospital admission for respiratory distress is four times higher, and the risk of death ten times higher than patients without cancer. This exacerbation seems to be particularly marked in those with neutropenia or lymphopenia, a feature commonly seen in patients with cancer treated with multiple therapies (…)
The Lancet Oncology , commentaire en libre accès, 2019