COVID-19 DISRUPTION TO PROSTATE CANCER MANAGEMENT IN A UK TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTRE

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Covid-19 caused major disruptions to cancer diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to evaluate the longitudinal disruption to prostate cancer management. METHODS: We completed a prospective service evaluation from 01/09/2019 to 31/08/2021 of all referrals, investigations, and treatments for prostate cancer at a single centre. The first UK Covid-19 lockdown occurred from 23/03/20 to 04/07/2020 monthly data for the time period before, during, and after the first UK lockdown were compared using ANOVA and Tukey HSD. RESULTS: We identified 4501 patients for inclusion. There was a profound decrease in all aspects of prostate cancer management during the first lockdown period. For pre-lockdown, lockdown, and postlockdown periods respectively, the mean monthly rates were 256 v 125 v 363 PSA tests (p=0.0003);86 v 40 v 79 two-week-wait referrals (p=0.0005);62 v 18 v 54 MRI imaging for possible cancer (p<0.0001);32 v 15 v 36 diagnoses (p=0.002);17 v 9 v 14 prostatectomies (p=0.06). In the period after the first lockdown, despite the previous drop, we did not observe an increase in the number of referrals, MRI imaging, diagnoses, or treatment required (including active monitoring, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, prostatectomy, and palliative care) in comparison to pre-lockdown levels (all p>0.05). However, interestingly, we did see an increase in the number of PSA tests performed (p=0.04), which continued through the two subsequent UK lockdowns. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide an overview of the impact of COVID-19 national lockdowns on the whole prostate cancer management pathway - from initial referral to final treatment. Despite the disruption to prostate cancer management during the first UK Covid-19 lockdown leading to a decrease in referrals, diagnoses and treatment in the context of reduced PSA testing, we have not seen a subsequent increase in these numbers after lockdown despite a rise in PSA testing. The rise in the number PSA tests performed post-lockdown may suggest a degree of compensatory PSA observation in the community. (Figure Presented).