The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Bladder Cancer Care in the Netherlands
Bladder Cancer
; 8(2):139-154, 2022.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1896643
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted regular health care with potential consequences for non-COVID diseases like cancer. To ensure continuity of oncological care, guidelines were temporarily adapted.OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on bladder cancer care in the Netherlands.METHODS:
The number of bladder cancer (BC) diagnoses per month during 2020-2021 was compared to 2018-2019 based on preliminary data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Additionally, detailed data were retrieved from the NCR for the cohort diagnosed between March 1st-May 31st 2020 (first COVID wave) and 2018-2019 (reference cohort). BC diagnoses, changes in age and stage at diagnosis, and time to first-line treatment were compared between both periods. Changes in treatment were evaluated using logistic regression.RESULTS:
During the first COVID wave (week 9-22), the number of BC diagnoses decreased by 14%, corresponding with approximately 300 diagnoses, but increased again in the second half of 2020. The decline was most pronounced from week 13 onwards in patients≥70 years and patients with non-muscle invasive BC. Patients with muscle-invasive disease were less likely to undergo a radical cystectomy (RC) in week 17-22 (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.40-0.97). Shortly after the start of the outbreak, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy decreased from 34% to 25% but this (non-significant) effect disappeared at the end of April. During the first wave, 5% more RCs were performed compared to previous years. Time from diagnosis to RC became 6 days shorter. Overall, a 7% reduction in RCs was observed in 2020.CONCLUSIONS:
The number of BC diagnoses decreased steeply by 14% during the first COVID wave but increased again to pre-COVID levels by the end of 2020 (i.e. 600 diagnoses/month). Treatment-related changes remained limited and followed the adapted guidelines. Surgical volume was not compromised during the first wave. Altogether, the impact of the first COVID-19 outbreak on bladder cancer care in the Netherlands appears to be less pronounced than was reported for other solid tumors, both in the Netherlands and abroad. However, its impact on bladder cancer stage shift and long-term outcomes, as well as later pandemic waves remain so far unexamined.
aged; article; bladder cancer; cancer chemotherapy; cancer diagnosis; cancer patient; cancer registry; cancer staging; cancer surgery; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; diagnosis; human; incidence; neoadjuvant chemotherapy; Netherlands; non muscle invasive bladder cancer; outcome assessment; pandemic; practice guideline; preliminary data; radical cystectomy; solid malignant neoplasm; surgical volume
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Language:
English
Journal:
Bladder Cancer
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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