ABSTRACT
Objectives: We evaluated whether the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea, where there have been no regional or hospital lockdowns during the pandemic period. Methods: Data on CRC patients (n = 1,445) diagnosed in the Gwangju metropolitan city and Jeonnam province between January 2019 and December 2021 were assessed. Stage at the time of CRC diagnosis, route to diagnosis, time to initial cancer treatment, and length of hospital admission were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression was also performed to identify the factors associated with the risk for diagnosis in an advanced stage. Results: No negative effects indicating a down-shifting of CRC stage at diagnosis and delayed treatment during the pandemic were observed. Instead, the risk for advanced stage at diagnosis (TNM stage III/IV) was reduced in CRC patients diagnosed during the pandemic (odds ratio 0.768, 95% confidence interval 0.647-0.911). No significant differences in the interval from diagnosis to operation or chemotherapy were observed. Conclusion: No negative effects on CRC diagnosis and treatment were found until the of the 2021, which may be related to the small magnitude of the COVID-19 epidemic, absence of a lockdown policy in Korea, and rebounding increase of diagnostic colonoscopy in 2021.