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Fewer head and neck cancer diagnoses and faster treatment initiation during COVID-19 in 2020: A nationwide population-based analysis.
Schoonbeek, Rosanne C; de Jel, Dominique V C; van Dijk, Boukje A C; Willems, Stefan M; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Hoebers, Frank J P; van Meerten, Esther; Verbist, Berit M; Smeele, Ludi E; Halmos, György B; Merkx, Matthias A W; Siesling, Sabine; De Bree, Remco; Takes, Robert P.
  • Schoonbeek RC; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.c.schoonbeek@umcg.nl.
  • de Jel DVC; Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing, Scientific Bureau, Leiden, The Netherlands; Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • van Dijk BAC; Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Department of Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • Willems SM; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • Bloemena E; Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Pathology, The Netherlands.
  • Hoebers FJP; Maastricht University Medical Centre Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, The Netherlands.
  • van Meerten E; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Verbist BM; Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, The Netherlands.
  • Smeele LE; Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Netherlands.
  • Halmos GB; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • Merkx MAW; Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Department of Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • Siesling S; Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Department of Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Twente, Department of Health Technology and Services Research, Technical Medical Centre, Enschede, The Netherlands.
  • De Bree R; University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands.
  • Takes RP; Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Radiother Oncol ; 167: 42-48, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1569002
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Inevitably, the emergence of COVID-19 has impacted non-COVID care. Because timely diagnosis and treatment are essential, especially for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) with fast-growing tumours in a functionally and aesthetically important area, we wished to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HNC care in the Netherlands. MATERIAL AND

METHODS:

This population-based study covered all, in total 8468, newly diagnosed primary HNC cases in the Netherlands in 2018, 2019 and 2020. We compared incidence, patient and tumour characteristics, primary treatment characteristics, and time-to-treatment in the first COVID-19 year 2020 with corresponding periods in 2018 and 2019 (i.e. pre-COVID).

RESULTS:

The incidence of HNC was nearly 25% less during the first wave (n = 433) than in 2019 (n = 595) and 2018 (n = 598). In April and May 2020, the incidence of oral cavity and laryngeal carcinomas was significantly lower than in pre-COVID years. There were no shifts in tumour stage or alterations in initial treatment modalities. Regardless of the first treatment modality and specific period, the median number of days between first visit to a HNC centre and start of treatment was significantly shorter during the COVID-19 year (26-28 days) than pre-COVID (31-32 days, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

The incidence of HNC during the Netherlands' first COVID-19 wave was significantly lower than expected. The expected increase in incidence during the remainder of 2020 was not observed. Despite the overloaded healthcare system, the standard treatment for HNC patients could be delivered within a shorter time interval.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Laryngeal Neoplasms / COVID-19 / Head and Neck Neoplasms Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Radiother Oncol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Laryngeal Neoplasms / COVID-19 / Head and Neck Neoplasms Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Radiother Oncol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article