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Patient Reported Outcomes and Complications during Head & Neck Cancer Radiotherapy before versus during the COVID-19 Pandemic


 Purpose

This study compares patient reported outcomes and treatment related complications during radiotherapy before (August 2019 -Feb 2020) versus during (March -October 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods

The MD Anderson Symptom Inventory – Head & Neck Module was used to assess curative intent H&N cancer patients’ symptoms during radiotherapy.
Results

There were 158 patients in the pre-pandemic cohort and 137 patients in the pandemic cohort. There was a trend towards more patients requiring an enteral feeding during the pandemic (21% vs 30%, p = 0.07). Weight loss was higher during the pandemic (mean − 5.6% vs 6.8%, p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, treatment during the pandemic was associated with higher symptom scores for coughing/choking while eating (2.7 vs 2.1, p = 0.013).
Conclusions

Complication rates during H&N radiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic were similar at our institution relative to the pre-pandemic era although weight loss was greater and patients reported more severe choking/coughing while eating.