Novel Coronavirus Infection

COVID-19 infections in patients with hematologic malignancies tend to have a much worse prognosis, with mortality rates twice as high as those of patients without hematologic malignancies. These rates are currently up to 34% overall among adults and up to 47% among those aged older than 60 years. Underlying immunosuppression related to the malignancy itself and further potentiated by the therapy likely contributes to high mortality seen among these patients.

More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, new information emerges daily about the virus and its effects on various vulnerable populations.

Approximately one in five patients with cancer reported they were less likely to participate in a clinical trial because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter in JAMA Oncology.

On Oct. 25, 2016, HemOnc Today published an editorial titled “Animal Farm, 1984 and The Hunger Games,” which warned members of the electorate to be thoughtful about their imminent decisions and predicted a time of dystopia, contingent on the outcome.

In a survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on practices and their patients, 95% of private ophthalmic practices reported they are seeing 25% or less of their pre-COVID patient volume.

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces during World War II, has been quoted as saying, “In battle, plans are worthless, but planning is indispensable.”

Marian Macsai, MD, a cornea specialist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, shows and discusses physicians’ use of personal protective equipment and how they have restructured their eye care treatment procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marian Macsai, MD, a cornea specialist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, discusses how some patients with COVID-19 developed a distinct version of viral conjunctivitis and how they are treating those patients.

Marian Macsai, MD, a cornea specialist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, discusses the challenges of implementing telehealth but also outlines reasons why she thinks the switch to more telehealth may be the best thing to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic for physicians.

Marian Macsai, MD, a cornea specialist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, discusses how her hospital group has been adapting to treat ophthalmology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.