Impact of COVID-19 on Radiation Oncology, an Austrian Experience.
Curr Oncol
; 28(6): 4776-4785, 2021 11 17.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1523894
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has an unprecedented impact on cancer treatment worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the radiation treatment of patients in order to provide data for future management of such crises. We compared the number of performed radiotherapy sessions of the pandemic period from February 2020 until May 2021 with those of 2018 and 2019 for reference. At our department, no referred patients had to be rejected or postponed, nor any significant changes in fractionation schedules implemented. Nevertheless, there was a substantial drop in overall radiotherapy sessions in 2020 following the first incidence wave of up to -25% (in June) in comparison to previous years. For breast cancer, a maximum decline of sessions of -45% (July) was recorded. Only a short drop of prostate cancer sessions (max -35%, May) followed by a rebound (+42%, July) was observed. Over the investigated period, a loss of 4.4% of expected patients never recovered. The severe impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment, likely caused by retarded diagnosis and delayed interdisciplinary co-treatment, is reflected in a lower count of radiotherapy sessions. Radiation oncology is a crucial cornerstone in upholding both curative treatment options and treatment capacity during a pandemic.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Radiation Oncology
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Curr Oncol
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Curroncol28060404
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