The psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in adults
treated for childhood cancer
Abstract
Objectives. Compared with the general population, childhood cancer
survivors (CCS) could be at greater risk of psychological distress
following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional
study assessed the psychological consequences of COVID-19 on the mental
health of CCS. Methods. In December 2020, we interviewed through an
online self-report questionnaire 580 5-year CCS participating in the
French Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (FCCSS) cohort. We first compared
the mental health score of CCS with that observed in the French general
population of the same age and gender. Subsequently, combining clinical
and patient-reported outcomes, we studied predictors of the mental
health score of CCS. Results. External comparisons revealed that the
mental health score of CCS was similar to that observed in the general
population. Among CCS, almost 42% stated that their psychological state
had been worse during the lockdown. Predictors of poorer mental health
included, among others, female gender, reporting a change of his/her
occupational situation, having a relative who had been hospitalized or
had died following COVID-19, and a greater perceived infection risk.
Conclusion. Given the pre-existing vulnerability of some CCS to mental
distress, the additional psychological consequences of COVID-19 in
vulnerable survivors should receive attention from health care
providers.