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Impact of financial toxicity on adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

Repercusiones de la toxicidad financiera en adultos con cáncer durante la pandemia de COVID-19: revisión integrativa

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

to identify the repercussions of financial toxicity on the lives of adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

an integrative review was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases, as well as the Virtual Health Library portal, in March 2023.

Results:

out of 62 studies found, 13 were included for analysis. The primary repercussions of financial toxicity included difficulties in covering basic expenses such as food, housing, medication, transportation, and internet access; increased anxiety and concerns related to health and financial situations; reduction or absence of income; challenges in obtaining treatment or accessing healthcare services; rising expenses; and telemedicine as a less burdensome alternative.

Conclusions:

the pandemic has exacerbated financial toxicity; therefore, healthcare teams must recognize it as an adverse event of oncological treatment and understand its potential to affect various aspects of patients’ lives.

Descriptors:
Financial Stress; Coronavirus Infections; COVID-19; Neoplasms; Review

RESUMEN

Objetivos:

identificar las repercusiones de la toxicidad financiera en la vida de pacientes adultos con cáncer durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

Métodos:

revisión integrativa realizada en las plataformas de datos PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase y en el portal de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud en marzo de 2023.

Resultados:

de 62 estudios encontrados, 13 fueron incluídos para análisis. Las principales repercusiones de la toxicidad financiera fueron: dificultades para cubrir gastos básicos como alimentación, vivienda, medicamentos, transporte e internet; aumento de la ansiedad y preocupaciones relacionadas con la salud y la situación financiera; reducción o ausencia de ingresos; dificultad para obtener tratamiento o acceso a los servicios de salud; aumento de los gastos y telemedicina como alternativa menos costosa.

Conclusiones:

la pandemia ha intensificado la toxicidad financiera; por lo tanto, los equipos de salud necesitan reconocerla como un evento adverso del tratamiento oncológico y comprender que puede afectar diferentes ámbitos de la vida de los pacientes.

Descriptores:
Estrés Financiero; Infecciones por Coronavirus; COVID-19; Neoplasias; Revisión

RESUMO

Objetivos:

identificar as repercussões da toxicidade financeira na vida de pacientes adultos com câncer durante a pandemia da COVID-19.

Métodos:

revisão integrativa realizada nas plataformas de dados PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase e no portal da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde no mês de março de 2023.

Resultados:

de 62 estudos encontrados, 13 foram incluídos para análise. As principais repercussões da toxicidade financeira foram: dificuldades em custear despesas básicas como alimentação, moradia, medicamentos, transporte e internet; aumento da ansiedade e preocupações relacionadas à saúde e à situação financeira; redução ou ausência de renda; dificuldade para obter tratamento ou acesso aos serviços de saúde; aumento das despesas e telemedicina como alternativa menos onerosa.

Conclusões:

a pandemia acentuou a toxicidade financeira; portanto, as equipes de saúde precisam reconhecê-la como um evento adverso do tratamento oncológico e compreender que ela pode afetar diferentes âmbitos da vida dos pacientes.

Descritores:
Estresse Financeiro; Infecções por Coronavírus; COVID-19; Neoplasias; Revisão

INTRODUCTION

Financial toxicity is an adverse event associated with costly diseases like cancer. It arises from the financial burdens that patients face due to the costs of diagnosis, including tests, medications, transportation, and other related expenses. This situation exposes patients to psychological stress, incorporating financial worries and concerns about health insurance coverage when available. Such challenges can lead to neglect, delays, or reductions in necessary care(11 Bouberhan S, Shea M, Kennedy A, Erlinger A, Stack-Dunnbier H, Buss MK, et al. Financial toxicity in gynecologic oncology. Gynecol Oncol. 2019;154(1):8-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.04.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.04....

2 Gordon LG, Merollini KMD, Lowe A, Chan RJ. A systematic review of financial toxicity among cancer survivors: we can’t pay the co-pay. Patient. 2017;10(3):295-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-016-0204-x
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-016-0204-...

3 Casilla-Lennon MM, Choi SK, Deal AM, Bensen JT, Narang G, Filippou P, et al. Financial Toxicity among Patients with Bladder Cancer: reasons for delay in care and effect on quality of life. J Urol. 2018;199(5):1166-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.10.049
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.10.0...

4 Barnes JM, Johnson KJ, Adjei Boakye E, Sethi RKV, Varvares MA, Osazuwa-Peters N. Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on cost-related medication underuse in nonelderly adult cancer survivors. Cancer. 2020;126(12):2892-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32836
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32836...
-55 Gany F, Ayash C, Raad N, Wu M, Roberts-Eversley N, Mahmoud H, et al. Financial and food security challenges of Egyptian women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Sup Care Cancer. 2020;28(12):5787-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05426-9
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-020-05426...
).

Among chronic non-communicable diseases, cancer bears the highest treatment costs. This fact is underscored by a study conducted in the United States (US)(66 Kunnumakkara AB, Bordoloi D, Sailo BL, Roy NK, Thakur KK, Banik K, et al. Cancer drug development: the missing links. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2019;244(8):663-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370219839163
https://doi.org/10.1177/1535370219839163...
), a country where most research on the costs of cancer drugs is performed. The study revealed that the average monthly treatment with cetuximab®, used for lung cancer, costs $80,000, which translates to $960,000 per year to extend a patient’s life, potentially causing or exacerbating financial toxicity.

Another contributing factor to increased financial toxicity was the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which precipitated a global economic crisis, reduced incomes, and necessitated the adoption of different behavioral rules affecting the entire population. In this context, patients weakened by diagnosis and treatment may experience heightened effects of financial toxicity. They now live with the fear of virus infection, compounded by a lack of resources due to increased costs for food, medication, and the necessities of social isolation, among other issues, which can exacerbate conditions like depression and anxiety.

Research on financial toxicity at the national level is still in its early stages, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic period. However, studies(77 Mattei L, Heinen VL. Impactos da crise da Covid-19 no mercado de trabalho brasileiro. Braz J Polit Econ. 2020;40(4):647-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0101-31572020-3200
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0101-31572020-...
-88 Ministério da Economia (BR). Impactos Econômicos da COVID-19. Nota informativa [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2023 Feb 10]. Available from: https://www.gov.br/economia/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/notas-informativas/2020/nota-impactos-economicos-da-covid-19.pdf
https://www.gov.br/economia/pt-br/centra...
) published in 2020 highlight the impacts of the economic crisis associated with the pandemic, emphasizing unemployment, bankruptcy, and other factors that may affect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the medium to long term and exacerbate difficulties in funding cancer treatment. A recent Brazilian editorial(99 Werneck GL. A pandemia de COVID-19: desafios na avaliação do impacto de problemas complexos e multidimensionais na saúde de populações. Cad Saúde Pública. 2022;38(4). https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311XPT045322
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311XPT04532...
) highlighted the observation that the pandemic created an unprecedented crisis, where the population found itself in widespread social and economic vulnerability, compounded by the collapse of the Unified Health System (SUS), resulting in financial strain on patients to cover treatment expenses.

In the US, a leader in discussions on financial toxicity, the financial burdens during the pandemic have impacted health service utilization and restricted access to healthcare, with the most severe effects observed among women(1010 Baddour K, Kudrick LD, Neopaney A, Sabik LM, Peddada SD, Nilsen ML, et al. Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Financial Toxicity in Cancer Survivors. Head Neck. 2020;42:1332-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26187
https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26187...
). Given the contemporaneity of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been limited discussion in Brazil and other countries about the repercussions of financial toxicity on cancer patients, making this topic innovative and significant to the academic community.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the repercussions of financial toxicity on the lives of adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This integrative review was structured in six steps: 1) identification of the topic and formulation of the research question; 2) determination of the sample and inclusion criteria; 3) specification of the information to be extracted from the studies; 4) analysis of the results; 5) interpretation of the results; 6) presentation of the findings(1111 Ganong LH. Integrative reviews of nursing research. Res Nurs Health. 1987;10(1):111. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770100103
https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770100103...
).

The mnemonic PCC was utilized, comprising P (Population) – adult cancer patients; C (Concept) – financial toxicity; C (Context) – the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these definitions, the research was guided by the question: What are the repercussions of financial toxicity on adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic as reported in the literature?

The search for studies was conducted in March 2023 across several databases: the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS). Descriptors from the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) platforms included: “financial toxicity,” “financial stress,” “neoplasms,” and “COVID-19,” along with their alternative terms “cancer” and “financial toxicity.” These terms were combined using the Boolean operators AND and OR (Chart 1).

Chart 1
Search Strategy Used, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, 2023

Included were open access studies that specifically addressed the repercussions of financial toxicity, published from the onset of the pandemic (2020) through March 2023, and were either quantitative or qualitative, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. Excluded were texts categorized as comments, editorials, letters to the editor, and pre-prints.

The search strategy and the descriptors used are detailed in Chart 1.

The selection of articles was carried out by two independent researchers to mitigate selection bias. Any disagreements were discussed and assessed collaboratively, and with the aid of a third party, a consensus was reached. During the selection phase, 25 duplicate articles were removed, leaving 37 for review of titles, abstracts, and keywords. Subsequently, another 24 articles were excluded because they did not relate to financial toxicity, were not conducted during the pandemic, or involved children, adolescents, and caregivers as the sample. This process resulted in a final selection of 13 articles. All selected articles were read in their entirety and included in the analysis.

Following the review, data were extracted, organized, and categorized in the following sequence: authorship, publication year, objectives of the study, and the repercussions of financial toxicity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To determine the level of evidence of the studies, the classification system from the “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine: Levels of Evidence” was used(1212 Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (UK). Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine: Levels of Evidence [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2023 Mar 03]. Available from: https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/levels-of-evidence/oxford-centre-for-evidence-based-medicine-levels-of-evidence-march-2009
https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/leve...
).

The need for submission to an ethics review board was waived since this was a review study using publicly available literature.

RESULTS

The search yielded 62 studies, with 20 from Scopus, 13 from Web of Science, 11 from the Virtual Health Library (BVS), 10 from PubMed, and 8 from Embase, as depicted in Figure 1

Figure 1
Flowchart of the Selection Process, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, 2023

Regarding the publication year and language of the analyzed studies, five were published in 2021, seven in 2022, and one in 2023, all in English. As for the type of approach of the studies, 11 are quantitative and two are qualitative. Concerning the level of evidence, all studies presented a low level - 5. Chart 2 displays the type of study, year of publication, sample, objectives, and the main repercussions of financial toxicity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chart 2
Synthesis of Studies Included in the Analysis, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, 2023

It was observed that the primary repercussions of financial toxicity included difficulties covering basic expenses such as food(1313 Staehler MD, Battle DJ, Bergerot CD, Pal SK, Penson DF. COVID-19 and financial toxicity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. World J Urol. 2020;22:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476...
,1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
,1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
), housing(1414 Williams CP, Rocque GB, Caston NE, Gallagher KD, Angove RSM, Anderson E, et al. Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272740
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.027...
,1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
), medication(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
,2020 Peoples AR, Oswald LB, Ose J, Daniels B, Himbert C, Hathaway CA, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and urban cancer patients’ experiences, health behaviors, and perceptions. J Rural Health. 2022;38(4):886-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12648
https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12648...
), transportation(1414 Williams CP, Rocque GB, Caston NE, Gallagher KD, Angove RSM, Anderson E, et al. Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272740
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.027...
), and internet(1414 Williams CP, Rocque GB, Caston NE, Gallagher KD, Angove RSM, Anderson E, et al. Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272740
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.027...
). There was an increase in anxiety and concerns related to health and financial situations(1515 Chen YS, Zhou ZN, Glynn SM, Frey MK, Balogun OD, Kanis M, et al. Financial toxicity, mental health, and gynecologic cancer treatment: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic among low-income women in New York City. Cancer. 2021;127(14):2399-408. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33537
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33537...
,2222 Teteh D, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022;126:407-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902...

23 Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, et al. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: a mixed methods study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29(3):1649–57. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209-1
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209...

24 Zomerdijk N, Jongenelis M, Yuen E, Turner J, Huntley K, Soares A, et al. Experiences and needs of people with haematological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. Psychooncol. 2022;31(3):416-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819...
-2525 Kieran R, Moloney C, Alken S, Corrigan L, Gallagher D, Grant C, et al. Patient knowledge, personal experience, and impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in an Irish oncology cohort. Ir J Med Sci. 2023;192(2):533–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999...
); a reduction or absence of income(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
,1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
,2323 Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, et al. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: a mixed methods study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29(3):1649–57. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209-1
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209...
,2525 Kieran R, Moloney C, Alken S, Corrigan L, Gallagher D, Grant C, et al. Patient knowledge, personal experience, and impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in an Irish oncology cohort. Ir J Med Sci. 2023;192(2):533–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999...
); and various financial challenges such as difficulties, impact, stress, and financial challenges(1313 Staehler MD, Battle DJ, Bergerot CD, Pal SK, Penson DF. COVID-19 and financial toxicity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. World J Urol. 2020;22:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476...
,1717 Zhao F, Henderson TO, Cipriano TM, Copley BL, Liu M, Burra R, et al. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort. Cancer. 2021;127(21):4072-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798...
,2020 Peoples AR, Oswald LB, Ose J, Daniels B, Himbert C, Hathaway CA, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and urban cancer patients’ experiences, health behaviors, and perceptions. J Rural Health. 2022;38(4):886-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12648
https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12648...
,2222 Teteh D, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022;126:407-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902...
,2424 Zomerdijk N, Jongenelis M, Yuen E, Turner J, Huntley K, Soares A, et al. Experiences and needs of people with haematological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. Psychooncol. 2022;31(3):416-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819...
). Additional issues included difficulty obtaining treatment or accessing healthcare services(1515 Chen YS, Zhou ZN, Glynn SM, Frey MK, Balogun OD, Kanis M, et al. Financial toxicity, mental health, and gynecologic cancer treatment: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic among low-income women in New York City. Cancer. 2021;127(14):2399-408. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33537
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33537...
,1717 Zhao F, Henderson TO, Cipriano TM, Copley BL, Liu M, Burra R, et al. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort. Cancer. 2021;127(21):4072-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798...
,2222 Teteh D, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022;126:407-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902...
-2323 Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, et al. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: a mixed methods study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29(3):1649–57. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209-1
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209...
) and reduced social support, impacting routine and lifestyle habits(2222 Teteh D, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022;126:407-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902...
,2424 Zomerdijk N, Jongenelis M, Yuen E, Turner J, Huntley K, Soares A, et al. Experiences and needs of people with haematological cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study. Psychooncol. 2022;31(3):416-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5819...
).

Other noted effects were increased expenses(1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
,2525 Kieran R, Moloney C, Alken S, Corrigan L, Gallagher D, Grant C, et al. Patient knowledge, personal experience, and impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in an Irish oncology cohort. Ir J Med Sci. 2023;192(2):533–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999-8
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02999...
) and the adoption of telemedicine/telehealth as a less burdensome alternative(1919 Hassan AM, Chu CK, Liu J, Angove R, Rocque G, Gallagher KD, et al. Determinants of telemedicine adoption among financially distressed patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from a nationwide study. Supp Care Cancer. 2022;30(9):7665-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07204-1
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07204...
,2121 Patel KB, Turner K, Tabriz AA, Gonzalez BD, Oswald LB, Nguyen OT, et al. Estimated Indirect Cost Savings of Using Telehealth Among Nonelderly Patients With Cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(1):e2250211. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.50211
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen....
,2323 Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, et al. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: a mixed methods study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022;29(3):1649–57. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209-1
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-021-11209...
). Other implications, such as the need for charity(1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
), indebtedness(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
), use of savings(1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
), job loss(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
), loneliness(1717 Zhao F, Henderson TO, Cipriano TM, Copley BL, Liu M, Burra R, et al. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort. Cancer. 2021;127(21):4072-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798...
), discouragement(1717 Zhao F, Henderson TO, Cipriano TM, Copley BL, Liu M, Burra R, et al. The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the quality of life and treatment disruption of patients with breast cancer in a multiethnic cohort. Cancer. 2021;127(21):4072-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33798...
), and worsening health(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
), were also identified, albeit to a lesser extent.

DISCUSSION

This review examined the repercussions of financial toxicity on the lives of adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that led to increased expenses, exacerbated the economic crisis, and intensified financial difficulties in this population(1313 Staehler MD, Battle DJ, Bergerot CD, Pal SK, Penson DF. COVID-19 and financial toxicity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. World J Urol. 2020;22:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476...
), as well as complicated access to healthcare services(2626 Almeida WS, Szwarcwald CL, Malta DC, Barros MBA, Souza Júnior PRB, Azevedo LO, et al. Mudanças nas condições socioeconómicas e de saúde dos brasileiros durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2020;23:E200105. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720200105
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-54972020010...
). A study conducted by a Brazilian foundation(2222 Teteh D, Barajas J, Ferrell B, Zhou Z, Erhunmwunsee L, Raz DJ, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on care delivery and quality of life in lung cancer surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2022;126:407-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902
https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.26902...
) revealed that there were 1.7 million fewer hospital admissions over one and a half years of the pandemic compared to the period from January 2018 to June 2019. This reduction was due to the need to reorganize healthcare services to meet the demands of COVID-19, which hindered access to services such as consultations, medications, exams, and scheduled interventions(2727 Malta DC, Gomes CS, Silva AG, Cardoso LSM, Barros MBA, Lima MG, et al. Uso dos serviços de saúde e adesão ao distanciamento social por adultos com doenças crónicas na pandemia de COVID-19, Brasil, 2020. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2021;26(07):2833-42. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021267.00602021
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021267...
), especially among patients with chronic diseases requiring continuous monitoring. Reinforcing this issue, a survey describing the changes in the socioeconomic and health conditions of Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic found that 21.7% of the sample sought care, and among these, 13.9% were unable to receive it(2626 Almeida WS, Szwarcwald CL, Malta DC, Barros MBA, Souza Júnior PRB, Azevedo LO, et al. Mudanças nas condições socioeconómicas e de saúde dos brasileiros durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2020;23:E200105. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720200105
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-54972020010...
).

Other factors that hindered access to healthcare services included the fear of being infected by the virus and strict adherence to social distancing/isolation measures imposed by authorities. This situation was highlighted by a study(2828 Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ). Estudo revela como a pandemia afetou os atendimentos no SUS. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 10]. Available from: https://portal.fiocruz.br/noticia/estudo-revela-como-pandemia-afetou-os-atendimentos-no-sus
https://portal.fiocruz.br/noticia/estudo...
) conducted by a prominent Brazilian foundation, which found that approximately 75% of Brazilians adhered to social distancing, limiting contact with others and staying home most of the time, thereby reducing the demand for healthcare services for routine/preventive consultations.

The context of social isolation can psychologically affect people(1414 Williams CP, Rocque GB, Caston NE, Gallagher KD, Angove RSM, Anderson E, et al. Health insurance and financial hardship in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272740
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.027...
). Studies estimate that one-third to half of the population may experience psychological and psychiatric consequences if they do not receive adequate care during the pandemic, a situation caused by the loss or reduction of social activities(2929 Ornell F, Schuch JB, Sordi AO, Kessler FHP. Pandemic fear and COVID-19: mental health burden and strategies. Braz J Psychiatry. 2020;42(3):232–5. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0008
https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0...
-3030 Schmidt B, Crepaldi MA, Bolze SDA, Neiva-Silva L, Demenech LM. Impacts on Mental Health and psychological Interventions related to the New Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). Estud Psicol (Campinas). 2020;37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202037e200063
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-027520203...
). The absence of social interaction and dialogue significantly influences people’s routines, especially those with cancer, since relationships share experiences and provide social support. In-person group activities allow dialogue to flow and enable participation in educational and assistance programs that can contribute to self-care and enhance personal self-image.

Thus, cancer patients who strictly adhere to measures imposed by authorities and socially distance themselves from others may experience worsening or the onset of anxiety and depression. Mental health impairment is a recurring outcome in various studies on financial toxicity during the pandemic, and psychological suffering is one of the most noted consequences in the literature(33 Casilla-Lennon MM, Choi SK, Deal AM, Bensen JT, Narang G, Filippou P, et al. Financial Toxicity among Patients with Bladder Cancer: reasons for delay in care and effect on quality of life. J Urol. 2018;199(5):1166-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.10.049
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.10.0...
), as the lack of financial resources to afford treatment often leads to increased anxiety, depression, and a diminished quality of life related to health(3131 Lyman GH, Kuderer N. Financial toxicity, financial abuse, or financial torture: let’s call it what it is! Cancer Invest. 2020;38(3):139-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2020.1735084
https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2020.17...
).

In addition to social isolation, mental health can also be impacted by unemployment, a situation highlighted in research conducted by a Brazilian foundation(2828 Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ). Estudo revela como a pandemia afetou os atendimentos no SUS. [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Oct 10]. Available from: https://portal.fiocruz.br/noticia/estudo-revela-como-pandemia-afetou-os-atendimentos-no-sus
https://portal.fiocruz.br/noticia/estudo...
) and corroborated by an online study in the USA(3232 Kugbey N, Ohene-Oti N, Vanderpuye V. COVID-19 and its ramifications for cancer patients in low-resource settings: Ghana as a case study. Ecancer. 2020;14:1-7. https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2020.ed99
https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2020.ed9...
). This study identified financial toxicity among patients with renal cell carcinoma during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that unemployment exacerbates financial toxicity, primarily by increasing anxiety levels. It also noted that unemployment not only diminishes financial resources and restricts social interactions but also contributes to lowered self-esteem.

In the context of unemployment, a literature review(3333 Kong YC, Sakti VV, Sullivan R, Bhoo-Pathy N. Cancer and COVID-19: economic impact on households in Southeast Asia. Ecancer. 2020;14:1134. https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2020.1134
https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2020.113...
) investigating the pandemic’s impacts on financial toxicity among cancer survivors showed that unemployed cancer patients often lose their health insurance. This situation can force patients to choose between undergoing treatment and facing financial ruin for their families, triggering detrimental effects on mental health.

Employment, beyond fulfilling basic human needs, serves as a means of building relationships, exchanging experiences, and achieving personal fulfillment(1010 Baddour K, Kudrick LD, Neopaney A, Sabik LM, Peddada SD, Nilsen ML, et al. Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Financial Toxicity in Cancer Survivors. Head Neck. 2020;42:1332-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26187
https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26187...
,3434 Dejours C. Prefácio. In: Mendes AM, editor. Psicodinâmica do trabalho: teoria, método e pesquisas. São Paulo: Casa do Psicólogo; 2007.). A study(3535 Neves DR, Nascimento RP, Felix Jr MS, Silva FA, Andrade ROB. Sentido e significado do trabalho: uma análise dos artigos publicados em periódicos associados à Scientific Periodicals Electronic Library. Cad EBAPEBR. 2018;16:318-330. https://doi.org/10.1590/1679-395159388
https://doi.org/10.1590/1679-395159388...
) examining how Brazilian research portrays the “meaning and significance of work” emphasized its vital role in self-actualization and in contributing to the development of human identity. Thus, engaging in work is more than just earning money and sustaining oneself; it represents pride, dignity, facilitates social interaction, and holds a significant place in people’s lives.

Despite changes in work routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to note that many jobs are not compatible with remote work and were directly affected, particularly those in the trade, logistics, food, automotive, and aesthetics sectors. Consequently, cancer patients working in these sectors might risk their lives to not lose their source of income or could be forced into temporary unemployment due to fear of virus exposure, intensifying the threat of financial toxicity(3636 Ipsen C, Van VM, Kirchner K, Hansen JP. Six Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Working from Home in Europe during COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1826. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041826
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041826...
).

The interruption of group activities can also lead to a reduction or termination of emotional relationships, potentially damaging self-esteem and mental health. The presence of a partner can provide security and support, alleviating fear and depressive feelings related to the illness and treatment. Contact with family and friends is crucial in managing the consequences of illness(3131 Lyman GH, Kuderer N. Financial toxicity, financial abuse, or financial torture: let’s call it what it is! Cancer Invest. 2020;38(3):139-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2020.1735084
https://doi.org/10.1080/07357907.2020.17...
) and directly influences the health-related quality of life.

The health-related quality of life of cancer patients during the pandemic can be negatively impacted by the physical, psychological, and social domains that make up the concept of quality of life, all of which are weakened. A study(3737 Regino PA, Elias TC, Silveira CF, Pissetti CW, Pereira GDA, Silva SR. Ansiedade, depressão e qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer mamário e ginecológico sob quimioterapia. Cien Cuid Saude. 2018;17(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v17i4.40246
http://dx.doi.org/10.4025/cienccuidsaude...
) involving women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer indicated that psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are linked to decreased quality of life. The research highlighted that work capability is compromised during cancer treatment, with changes in functional capacity that hinder daily activities and social participation, affecting quality of life.

Financial toxicity during the pandemic may have been exacerbated by reductions in patients’ budgets, related to decreased work hours, increased expenses for basic items, and unemployment. An Indian study(1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
) involving women undergoing breast cancer treatment showed that household income was reduced by a quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic, and patients’ average expenses increased by 32%. It was also observed that more than two-thirds of the patients had no income, and more than half resorted to financial loans.

Regarding the decrease in income, the research with breast cancer patients(1818 Wadasadawala T, Sen S, Watekar R, Rane P, Sarin R, Gupta S, et al. Economic Distress of Breast Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Mumbai during COVID-19 Pandemic: a cohort study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021;22(3):793-800. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.793
https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3...
) found that 28% of the sample survived with the help of charity and faced a lack of medication due to a shortage of resources. In this context, telemedicine was highlighted as a quick resource capable of minimizing existing inequalities, particularly among cancer patients in financially vulnerable situations(1313 Staehler MD, Battle DJ, Bergerot CD, Pal SK, Penson DF. COVID-19 and financial toxicity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. World J Urol. 2020;22:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476-6
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03476...
).

Another point of concern was highlighted by a study(1616 Thom B, Benedict C, Friedman DN, Watson SE, Zeitler MS, Chino F. Economic distress, financial toxicity, and medical cost-coping in young adult cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from an internet sample. Cancer. 2021;127(23):4481-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33823...
) that expressed worry about the allocation of investments to COVID-19 treatment, which could lead, in the medium to long term, to financial consequences in areas such as oncology, affecting, for example, the supply of essential medications. This reality could exacerbate financial toxicity, especially in developing countries like Brazil.

Study limitations

The limitations of this study can be considered as follows: 1) The analyzed population consisted exclusively of adult cancer patients, thereby excluding studies conducted with children, adolescents, and caregivers of cancer patients; 2) The use of “financial toxicity” as an alternative term in the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) may have reduced the number of studies found on the Virtual Health Library (BVS) portal.

Contributions to Health Care and Nursing

This review focuses on the dissemination and expansion of understanding regarding this adverse event in oncological treatment. It aims to highlight, through literature, the financial hardships faced by cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. One method to mitigate patient suffering is through dialogue. Healthcare teams must be prepared to discuss treatment costs and provide less burdensome alternatives and/or support. Concurrently, families should seek assistance from these teams and managers and be prepared to discuss personal matters, such as finances. It is crucial that patients, families, healthcare teams, managers, and the industry discuss all difficulties, including financial challenges.

In this context, revealing financial toxicity and its consequences in the life of a cancer patient is essential for health professionals, managers, and patients to grasp the complexity of the issue and collaboratively develop strategies to minimize its effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial toxicity significantly impacted the lives of adult cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in several ways, primarily: difficulties in covering basic expenses, reduction or absence of income, increased expenses, and heightened anxiety. Recognizing financial toxicity as an adverse event that significantly affects people’s lives and can become chronic is necessary. The pandemic context exacerbated these difficulties due to resource reductions. Therefore, healthcare teams and managers need to recognize and understand how these challenges can affect different aspects of life and patient profiles.

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Edited by

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Antonio José de Almeida Filho

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rosane Cardoso

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    30 Aug 2024
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    29 Jan 2024
  • Accepted
    05 Apr 2024
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