FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 14.1 
million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and approximately 8.2 
million cancer-related deaths (about 22,000 deaths per day) were recorded worldwide in 
2012 
[5]. 
Fifty-seven percent of cancer cases (8 million) and 65.0% of deaths (5.3 million) occurred 
in developing countries, where approximately 82% of the world’s population resides [4]. 
Globally, one out of every seven deaths is caused by cancer, exceeding the combined 
mortality 
from 
AIDS, 
tuberculosis, 
and 
malaria. 
Malignant neoplasms (25%) represent the second leading cause of death after 
cardiovascular diseases (38%) in high-income countries, and rank third (12%) after 
cardiovascular (30%) and infectious and parasitic diseases (14%) in low- and middle
income countries [1]. 
It is projected that by 2030, due to population growth and aging, the number of new 
cancer cases will reach 21.7 million, with approximately 13 million deaths. 
In addition to human losses, the economic burden is substantial. Direct and indirect costs 
are estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars annually [2], and these figures are expected 
to increase in the future due to the rising incidence of cancer and the growing cost of 
treatment [3].