[Assessment of Direct (COVID-19-Related) and Collateral, Psychosocial Pandemic Consequences for Vulnerable Groups by the Example of Serious Mental Illness]. / Erfassung direkter (COVID-19-bezogener) und kollateraler, psychosozialer Folgen für vulnerable Gruppen am Beispiel schwerer psychischer Erkrankungen.

The indirect pandemic consequences could by far exceed the direct effects of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of costs, morbidity, and mortality. This essay includes a proposed method (matrix) to visualize virus-related and psychosocial risks for different populations side by side in a systematic and concise manner. COVID-19-related and psychosocial vulnerability, stressors, direct and indirect consequences are derived on a theoretical and empirical basis. An exemplary quantification of the matrix for the vulnerable group of people with severe mental illness revealed a very high risk for severe COVID-19 consequences, as well as a pronounced risk for psychosocial collateral effects. The proposed approach could be further discussed for a risk-graded pandemic management, crisis recovery, and future preparedness to adequately address psychosocial collateral effects and better identify and protect vulnerable groups in this regard.

[Differences due to socio-economic status, genetic background and sex in cancer and precision medicine - An intersectional approach to close the care gap for marginalized groups]. / Unterschiede durch sozioökomische Benachteiligung, genetischen Hintergrund und Geschlecht bei Tumorerkrankungen.

Malignant tumor diseases constitute the 2nd most common cause of death and due to our extended life expectancy cancer per se has substantially increased, being highly prevalent after cardiovascular diseases. Evidence also generated from the COVID-19 pandemic, that defined gender differences exist in symptom and disease courses, and have advocated the need to assess gender, ethnic/racial and minority differences in cancer care and treatment more meticulously. It is becoming increasingly evident that in novel cancer care/precision oncology, representation of minorities, elderly and frail patients in clinical trials remains largely unbalanced, thus distribution of cancer success is iniquitous. This article focusses on these aspects and suggests solutions, how this can be improved.

Evidence-based management of COVID-19 in cancer patients: Guideline by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO).

Since its first detection in China in late 2019 the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the associated infectious disease COVID-19 continue to have a major impact on global healthcare and clinical practice. Cancer patients, in particular those with haematological malignancies, seem to be at an increased risk for a severe course of infection. Deliberations to avoid or defer potentially immunosuppressive therapies in these patients need to be balanced against the overarching goal of providing optimal antineoplastic treatment. This poses a unique challenge to treating physicians. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations regarding prevention, diagnostics and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 as well as strategies towards safe antineoplastic care during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was prepared by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) by critically reviewing the currently available data on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in cancer patients applying evidence-based medicine criteria.