ABSTRACT
BackgroundIn most of the world, the mammography screening programmes were paused at the start of the pandemic, whilst mammography screening continued in Denmark. We examined the mammography screening participation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. MethodsThe study population comprised all women aged 50-69 years old invited to participate in mammography screening from 2016-2021 in Denmark based on data from the Danish Quality Database for Mammography Screening in combination with population-based registries. Using a generalised linear model, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mammography screening participation within 90, 180 and 365 days since invitation during the pandemic in comparison with the previous years adjusting for age, year and month of invitation. ResultsThe study comprised 1,828,791 invitations among 847,766 women. Before the pandemic, 80.2% of invitations resulted in participation in mammography screening within 90 days, 82.7% within 180 days and 83.1% within 365 days. At the start of the pandemic, the participation in screening within 90 days was reduced to 69.9% for those invited in pre-lockdown and to 76.5% for those invited in 1st lockdown. Extending the length of follow-up time to 365 days only a minor overall reduction was observed (PR=0.94; 95% CI: 0.93-0.95 in pre-lockdown and PR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.96-0.97 in 1st lockdown). A lower participation was; however, seen among immigrants and among women with a low income. ConclusionsThe short-term participation in mammography screening was reduced at the start of the pandemic, whilst only a minor reduction in the overall participation was observed with longer follow-up time indicating that women postponed screening. Some groups of women; nonetheless, had a lower participation indicating that the social inequity in screening participation was exacerbated during the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BackgroundIn contrast to most of the world, the cervical cancer screening programme continued in Denmark throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the cervical cancer screening participation during the pandemic in Denmark. MethodsWe included all women aged 23-64 years old invited to participate in cervical cancer screening from 2015-2021 as registered in the Cervical Cancer Screening Database combined with population-wide registries. Using a generalised linear model, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cervical cancer screening participation within 90, 180 and 365 days since invitation during the pandemic in comparison with the previous years adjusting for age, year and month of invitation. ResultsAltogether, 2,220,000 invited women (in 1,466,353 individuals) were included in the study. Before the pandemic, 36% of invited women participated in screening within 90 days, 54% participated within 180 days and 65% participated within 365 days. At the start of the pandemic, participation in cervical cancer screening within 90 days was lower (pre-lockdown PR=0.58; 95% CI: 0.56-0.59 and 1st lockdown PR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.75-0.77) compared with the previous years. A reduction in participation within 180 days was also seen during pre-lockdown (PR=0.89; 95% CI: 0.88-0.90) and 1st lockdown (PR=0.92; 95% CI: 0.91-0.93). Allowing for 365 days to participation, only a slight reduction (3%) in participation was seen with slightly lower participation in some groups (immigrants, low education and low income). ConclusionsThe overall participation in cervical cancer screening was reduced during the early phase of the pandemic. However, the decline almost diminished with longer follow-up time. FundingThe study was funded by the Danish Cancer Society Scientific Committee (grant number R321-A17417) and the Danish regions.
ABSTRACT
BackgroundWorldwide, most colorectal cancer screening programmes were paused at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst the Danish faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based programme continued without pausing. We examined colorectal cancer screening participation and compliance with subsequent colonoscopy in Denmark throughout the pandemic. MethodsWe used data from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Screening Database among individuals aged 50-74 years old invited to participate in colorectal cancer screening from 2018-2021 combined with population-wide registries. Using a generalised linear model, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of colorectal cancer screening participation within 90 days since invitation and compliance with colonoscopy within 60 days since a positive FIT test during the pandemic in comparison with the previous years adjusting for age, month and year of invitation. ResultsAltogether, 3,133,947 invitations were sent out to 1,928,725 individuals and there were 94,373 positive FIT tests (in 92,848 individuals) during the study period. Before the pandemic, 60.7% participated in screening within 90 days. A minor reduction in participation was observed at the start of the pandemic (PR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.94-0.96 in pre-lockdown and PR=0.85; 95% CI: 0.85-0.86 in 1st lockdown) corresponding to a participation rate of 54.9% during pre-lockdown and 53.0% during 1st lockdown. This was followed by a 5-10% increased participation in screening corresponding to a participation rate of up to 64.9%. The largest increase in participation was observed among 55-59 year olds, individuals living alone or cohabiting and immigrants. The compliance with colonoscopy within 60 days was 89.9% before the pandemic. A slight reduction was observed during 1st lockdown (PR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98), where after it resumed to normal levels. ConclusionsParticipation in the Danish FIT-based colorectal cancer screening programme and subsequent compliance to colonoscopy after a positive FIT result was only slightly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. FundingThe study was funded by the Danish Cancer Society Scientific Committee (grant number R321-A17417) and the Danish regions.
