Are colorectal cancer patients at risk for COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period? The Covid-GRECCAR study

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients have been regarded as having a high risk of severe events if they are infected with SARS-CoV-2, particularly those under medical or surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the posttreatment risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 in a population of patients operated on for colorectal cancer 3 months before the COVID-19 outbreak and who after hospitalization returned to an environment where the virus was circulating. Materials and methods This French, multicenter cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer between January 1 and March 31, 2020, at 19 GRECCAR hospitals. The outcome was the rate of COVID-19 infection in this group of patients who were followed until June 15, 2020. Results This study included 448 patients, 262 male (58.5%) and 186 female (41.5%), who underwent surgery for colon cancer ( n = 290, 64.7%), rectal cancer ( n = 155, 34.6%), or anal cancer ( n = 3, 0.7%). The median age was 68 years (19–95). Comorbidities were present in nearly half of the patients, 52% were at least overweight, and the median BMI was 25 (12–42). At the end of the study, 448 were alive. Six patients (1.3%) developed COVID-19 infection; among them, 3 were hospitalized in the conventional ward, and none of them died. Conclusion The results are reassuring, with only a 1.3% infection rate and no deaths related to COVID-19. We believe that we can operate on colorectal cancer patients without additional mortality from COVID-19, applying all measures aimed at reducing the risk of infection.