The COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Opportunities to Improve Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening and Diagnosis in a National Health System.
Am J Gastroenterol
; 117(4): 678-684, 2022 04 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1625363
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
We evaluated the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening and diagnosis among patients with cirrhosis in the Veterans Health Administration.METHODS:
Rates and predictors of screening and diagnosis were reviewed September 1, 2019-February 29, 2020 ("pre-COVID-19," N = 94,612) and April 1, 2020-September 30, 2020 ("post-COVID-19," N = 88,073).RESULTS:
Screening and diagnosis rates declined by 44% and 13%, respectively, after the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening declined irrespective of liver disease severity, but diagnosis declined only in Model for End Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score <20 or Fibrosis-4 score <3.25. Fibrosis-4 score ≥3.25 and HCC risk ≥1.5%/year strongly predicted HCC diagnosis but only moderately predicted receipt of screening.DISCUSSION:
Screening and diagnosis rates declined after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prioritizing screening for patients at greatest risk for HCC may reduce delays in diagnosis.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
End Stage Liver Disease
/
COVID-19
/
Liver Neoplasms
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Gastroenterol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ajg.0000000000001615
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