• Nai-Wen Kang, Yin-Hsun Feng, Zhih-Cherng Chen, and Wei-Ting Chang.
• Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2022 Apr 1; 121 (4): 861-864.

AbstractCOVID-19 has not only affected the respiratory but the cardiovascular system. Taiwan has encountered a less severe COVID-19 pandemic. We reported the current situation in Taiwan. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the data from our cardio-oncology program since October of 2019 to April of 2020 (the initial months of COVID-19 pandemic). In our cardio-oncology program, newly diagnosed breast cancer patients preparing for epirubicin therapy were included. Echocardiography, 6-min walking distance and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were recorded. To evaluate whether the social atmosphere affects cardio-oncology care, we analyzed the objective (physical) and subjective (emotional) parameters before and after January 21, 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Taiwan. There was no significant decrease in patients' return ratio and LVEFs. However, there was a trend of subjective shortness of breath reported by the patients but no decline in 6 MWT. Notably, none of the enrolled patients reported MACEs during the COVID pandemic. We observed an impact of anxiety on patients receiving epirubicin but it did not influence their return ratio.Copyright © 2021 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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