Cancer screening programmes in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic: an update of a nationwide survey on activity volumes and delayed diagnoses.
Ann Ist Super Sanita
; 58(1): 16-24, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1897026
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In Italy, regional governments are in charge of implementing cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening programmes. The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic led to a national lockdown and the temporary suspension of several non-urgent healthcare activities, including cancer screening. This paper aims to describe the results of a national survey carried out by the National Centre for Screening Monitoring (ONS) on cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screening activities in 2020. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A national survey was conducted by ONS in 2020 to assess the number of screening invitations by Region; the volumes of screening tests and the attitude to attend the screening programme compared to 2019; the number of delayed diagnoses of malignant or pre-malignant lesions caused by the slowing down of screening programmes, based on the average Region-specific screening detection rate for cervical, breast and colorectal cancers.RESULTS:
Screening tests for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer decreased by 37.6%, 45.5% and 43.4% in 2020 compared with 2019. In 2020 the estimated numbers of undiagnosed lesions are 3,324 breast cancers, 1,299 colorectal cancers, 7,474 colorectal advanced adenomas and 2,782 CIN2 or more severe cervical lesions. Participation in cancer screening programmes decreased by 15%, 15% and 20%, for cervical, breast and CRC screening, respectively. DISCUSSION ANDCONCLUSIONS:
An urgent call to action is needed to prevent further delays and to limit the impact of the pandemic on cancer diagnosis and prevention.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Ist Super Sanita
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ann_22_01_03
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