The Impact of COVID-19 on Lung Cancer Incidence in England: Analysis of the National Lung Cancer Audit 2019 and 2020 Rapid Cancer Registration Datasets.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to health-care services and delivery worldwide. The impact of the pandemic and associated national lockdowns on lung cancer incidence in England have yet to be assessed. RESEARCH QUESTION: What was the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and presentation of lung cancer in England? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, incidence rates for lung cancer were calculated from The National Lung Cancer Audit Rapid Cancer Registration Datasets for 2019 and 2020, using midyear population estimates from the Office of National Statistics as the denominators. Rates were compared using Poisson regression according to time points related to national lockdowns in 2020. RESULTS: Sixty-four thousand four hundred fifty-seven patients received a diagnosis of lung cancer across 2019 (n = 33,088) and 2020 (n = 31,369). During the first national lockdown, a 26% reduction in lung cancer incidence was observed compared with the equivalent calendar period of 2019 (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.71-0.78). This included a 23% reduction in non-small cell lung cancer (adjusted IRR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.74-0.81) and a 45% reduction in small cell lung cancer (adjusted IRR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.46-0.65) incidence. Thereafter, incidence rates almost recovered to baseline, without overcompensation (adjusted IRR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.98). INTERPRETATION: The incidence rates of lung cancer in England fell significantly by 26% during the first national lockdown in 2020 and did not compensate later in the year.

Fatigue in early rheumatoid arthritis: data from the Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Network.

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue is a disabling symptom in people with RA. This study aims to describe the prevalence, risk factors and longitudinal course of fatigue in early RA. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, quality of life (QoL), comorbidities and laboratory data were from the Early RA Network (ERAN), a UK multicentre inception cohort of people with RA. Fatigue was measured using the vitality subscale of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, where higher values represent better QoL. Baseline prevalences of fatigue classifications were age and sex standardized. Linear regression, hierarchical growth curve modelling and group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) were utilized. RESULTS: At baseline (n = 1236, 67% female, mean age 57 years), the mean vitality was 41 (s.d. 11) and disease duration was 11 months (interquartile range 7-18). Age- and sex-standardized prevalence rates of fatigue and severe fatigue were 44% (95% CI 39, 50) and 19% (95% CI 15, 23), respectively. Fatigue changed little over 3 years and five measurement occasions ß = -0.13 (95% CI -0.23, -0.02). GBTM identified two subgroups, which we named 'Fatigue' (53%) and 'No-fatigue' (47%). Female sex, worse pain, mental health and functional ability were associated with greater fatigue and predicted Fatigue group membership (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve = 0.81). Objective measures of inflammation-swollen joint count and ESR-were not significantly associated with fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is prevalent and persistent in early RA. Diverse characteristics indicative of central mechanisms are associated with persistent fatigue. Management of fatigue might require interventions targeted at central mechanisms in addition to inflammatory disease modification. People who require such interventions might be identified at presentation with early RA.