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COVID 19 IMPACT ON REPORTED INCIDENCE OF COLORECTAL CANCER DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF PANDEMIC IN DALMATIA
Libri Oncologici ; 50(SUPPL 1):107-108, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1894296
ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic almost six million people succumbed to the illness, with more that 430 million people infected [1],[2]. To mitigate the spread of the virus, various public health measures were deployed, affecting all spheres of the society, including healthcare in every level, without sparing cancer patients worldwide. The 'lockdown' period initiated during the first wave of pandemic limited the access to diagnostics and treatment of colorectal cancer, exposing the vulnerable population of colorectal cancer patients to additional risk[3]. Previous publications report the decrease in number of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, in diagnostic procedures, and treatment initiation. Given the fact the incidence of colorectal cancer is in constant rise, these factors hurt not only patients but healthcare system in general [4]. It is estimated that the decrease in diagnostic will be in the range absolute of 5,4-26% [5]. Official records for the period of 2020-2022. published by Croatian Cancer registry are expected between 2024-2026. The goal of this collaboration was to define the effect of epidemiologic measures deployed to contain the virus spread on the number of newly registered colorectal patients in three general hospitals in Dalmatia and the university hospital center in Split.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of oncology and nuclear medicine at the General hospital in Zadar, Department of internal medicine at General hospital Šibenik and Department of oncology at General hospital Dubrovnik as well as the Department of oncology and radiotherapy at the University hospital in Split. Analysis included patient history files of patients being registered at the Departments between January 1st, 2018. to December 31st, 2020.

Results:

Analysis included a three-years period and consisted of evaluating 1864 patients. The numbers of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer was 648 (2018), 605 (2019) and 611 (2020). The most significant drop in 2020 compared to the average of the two preceeding years was observed in the area gravitating the University hospital center (-7,7%), and the General hospital Šibenik (-3%). On the area of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and Zadar County an increase of number of patients was observed (+18% and + 33%, respectively).

Conclusion:

Number of newly reported colorectal cancer patients was in slight decline in 2020, compared to the average in the pre-pandemic years. The decline in Dalmatia was -2,5% in absolute, which contrasts with projected incidence of colorectal in Croatia and the world. It is also discordant to the previously published papers. This unique and thus far the biggest collaboration of oncology institutions in Dalmatia offered a comprised data on incidence of colorectal cancer in real time, while the nationwide (Croatian Cancer registry) data are expected within 2.4 years (based on previous publishing practice). True impact of the public health measures on patients characteristics, tumor characteristics and disease stage at diagnosis will be reported in the upcoming period.
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Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Language: English Journal: Libri Oncologici Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Language: English Journal: Libri Oncologici Year: 2022 Document Type: Article