Chronological development of in-patient oncology in times of COVID-19: a retrospective analysis of hospitalized oncology and COVID-19 patients of a German University Hospital

Griewing, Sebastian; Wagner, Uwe; Lingenfelder, Michael; Fischer, R. A.; Kalder, Matthias

doi:10.1007/s00432-022-04044-8

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…[1][2][3][4][5] Although healthcare services for serious conditions, such as cancer, were mostly exempt from restriction measures, nevertheless, they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] As previously reported for Slovenia 17 , a middle European country with a universal health care system, in the first wave of COVID-19 containment measures (from March 2020 until May 2020) there was a decrease of over 30% in the number of new cancer diagnoses, 30% in referrals to cancer care (33% for first appointments, 46% for follow-up appointments and 85% for genetic testing and counselling), 20% in the number of outpatients appointments at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana (IOL) and 40% in the number of diagnostic imaging performed, despite the fact that provision of oncology services was included among exemptions to healthcare-related restriction measures and was thus not directly scaled-down.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cancer burden and cancer care in Slovenia: a follow-up study

Žagar

Tomšič

Zadnik

et al. 2022

Radiology and Oncology

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Background In Slovenia, cancer care services were exempt from government decrees for COVID-19 containment. Nevertheless, cancer control can be impacted also by access to other health services and changes in health-seeking behaviour. In this follow up study, we explored changes in cancer burden and cancer care beyond the first months after the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic. Materials and methods We analysed routinely collected data for the period January 2019 through July 2022 from three sources: (1) pathohistological and clinical practice cancer notifications from two major cancer centres in Ljubljana and Maribor (source: Slovenian Cancer Registry); (2) referrals issued for oncological services (source: e-referral system); and (3) outpatient appointments and diagnostic imaging performed (source: administrative data of the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana – IOL). Additionally, changes in certain clinical and demographic characteristics in patients diagnosed and treated during the epidemic were analysed using the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry of the IOL (period 2015–2021). Results After a drop in referrals to follow-up cancer appointments in April 2020, in June-August 2020, there was an increase in referrals, but it did not make-up for the drop in the first wave; the numbers in 2021 and 2022 were even lower than 2020. Referrals to first cancer care appointments and genetic testing and counselling increased in 2021 compared to 2019 and in 2022 increased further by more than a quarter. First and follow-up outpatient appointments and cancer diagnostic imaging at the IOL dropped after the onset of the epidemic in March 2020 but were as high as expected according to 2019 baseline already in 2021. Some deficits remain for follow-up outpatients’ appointments in surgical and radiotherapy departments. There were more CT, MRI and PET scans performed during the COVID-19 period than before. New cancer diagnoses dropped in all observed years 2020, 2021 and until July 2022 by 6%, 3% and 8%, respectively, varying substantially by cancer type. The largest drop was seen in the 50−64 age group (almost 14% in 2020 and 16% in 2021), while for patients older than 80 years, the numbers were above expected according to the 2015–2019 average (4% in 2020, 8% in 2021). Conclusions Our results show a varying effect of COVID-19 epidemic in Slovenia for different types of cancers and at different stages on the patient care pathway – it is probably a mixture of changes in health-seeking behaviour and systemic changes due to modifications in healthcare organisation on account of COVID-19. A general drop in new cancer cases reflects disruptions in the pre-diagnostic phase and could have profound long-term consequences on cancer burden indicators.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cancer burden and cancer care in Slovenia: a follow-up study

Žagar

Tomšič

Zadnik

et al. 2022

Radiology and Oncology

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“…1 ). These included 59 peer-reviewed studies (Arndt et al 2022 ; Balakirski et al 2022 ; Balk et al 2022 ; Bartella et al 2021 ; Beller et al 2022 ; Bollmann et al 2021 ; Brunner et al 2020 ; Buntzel et al 2020 , 2021 ; Dienemann et al 2021 ; Diers et al 2021 , 2022 ; Donath et al 2021 ; Eckford et al 2021 ; Erdmann et al 2021 , 2022 ; Fauser et al 2022 ; Gremke et al 2022 ; Griewing et al 2022a , b ; Gschnell et al 2021 ; Haier et al 2022a , b , c ; Hajek et al 2021 ; Harke et al 2020 , 2022 ; Heimes et al 2021 ; Holzel et al 2022 ; Hunger et al 2022 ; Jacob et al 2021 , 2022 ; Jördens et al 2021 ; Justenhoven and Rieger 2022 ; Kaltofen et al 2022 ; Kapsner et al 2020 ; Kirchberg et al 2021 ; Kleemann et al 2022 ; Kourtidis et al 2022 ; Kuhlen et al 2020 ; Matuschek et al 2020 ; Medenwald et al 2022 ; Micek et al 2022 ; Michalowsky et al 2021 ; Piontek et al 2021 ; Reichardt et al 2021 ; Riemann et al 2021 ; Rupa et al 2020 ; Schuz et al 2022 ; Stang et al 2020 ; Stos et al 2020 ; Struck et al 2022 ; Teuscher et al 2022 ; Voigtlander et al 2021 ; Vu et al 2022 ; Walter et al 2021 , ...…”

Section: Resultsunclassified

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological care in Germany: rapid review

De Santis,

Helmer,

Barnes

et al. 2023

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol

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Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic affected medical care for chronic diseases. This study aimed to systematically assess the pandemic impact on oncological care in Germany using a rapid review. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, study and preprint registries and study bibliographies were searched for studies published between 2020 and 2 November 2022. Inclusion was based on the PCC framework: population (cancer), concept (oncological care) and context (COVID-19 pandemic in Germany). Studies were selected after title/abstract and full-text screening by two authors. Extracted data were synthesized using descriptive statistics or narratively. Risk of bias was assessed and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results Overall, 77 records (59 peer-reviewed studies and 18 reports) with administrative, cancer registry and survey data were included. Disruptions in oncological care were reported and varied according to pandemic-related factors (e.g., pandemic stage) and other (non-pandemic) factors (e.g., care details). During higher restriction periods fewer consultations and non-urgent surgeries, and delayed diagnosis and screening were consistently reported. Heterogeneous results were reported for treatment types other than surgery (e.g., psychosocial care) and aftercare, while ongoing care remained mostly unchanged. The risk of bias was on average moderate. Conclusions Disruptions in oncological care were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Such disruptions probably depended on factors that were insufficiently controlled for in statistical analyses and evidence quality was on average only moderate. Research focus on patient outcomes (e.g., longer term consequences of disruptions) and pandemic management by healthcare systems is potentially relevant for future pandemics or health emergencies.

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Chronological development of in-patient oncology in times of COVID-19: a retrospective analysis of hospitalized oncology and COVID-19 patients of a German University Hospital

Cited by 2 publications

References 35 publications

Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cancer burden and cancer care in Slovenia: a follow-up study

Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on cancer burden and cancer care in Slovenia: a follow-up study

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological care in Germany: rapid review

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