IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON CANCER SCREENING IN DENMARK: A register-based study

Abstract

Background<br />Denmark was one of the few countries where it was politically decided to continue cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the actual population uptake of mammography and cervical screening during this period.<br /><br />Methods<br />The first COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark was announced on 11 March 2020. To investigate possible changes in cancer screening activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we analysed data from the beginning of 2017 until the end of 2021, searching for trends and outliers in the activity throughout this period, particularly after the first lockdown. Data on mammography screening and cervical screening were retrieved from governmental pandemic-specific monitoring of health care activities.<br /><br />Results<br />A brief drop was seen in screening activity right after the first COVID-19 lockdown, but the activity quickly returned to its previous level. A short-term deficit of 43% [-49 to -37] was found for mammography screening. A short-term deficit of 62% [-65 to -58] was found for cervical screening. Furthermore, a slight, statistically significant downward trend in cervical screening from 2018 to 2021 was probably unrelated to the pandemic. Other changes, e.g. a marked drop in mammography screening towards the end of 2021, also seem unrelated to the pandemic.<br /><br />Conclusions<br />The policy in Denmark of continuing cancer screening during the pandemic was implemented very effectively.

Evaluating primary care programmes: a problem-solving cycle with literature review on programme evaluation for cervical cancer screening at a community health centre, Jakarta, Indonesia

“…Upon closer examination of the case study, inefficient workload management during the COVID-19 pandemic is a major cause of inadequate VIA testing in our CHC. Similar findings have been observed in studies conducted in England [66], Denmark [67] and the USA [68], where reduced invitations for cervical screening led to lower attendance rates and fewer cancer diagnoses. Laboratories also reported a significant decrease in received samples during the pandemic [66].…”

“…Laboratories also reported a significant decrease in received samples during the pandemic [66]. In Denmark, the reduction in cervical cancer screening coverage was as high as 62% [67], while in the USA, it reached 80% [68]. The disruption of healthcare services due to COVID-19 is expected to result in a higher number of cervical cancer diagnoses during the recovery phase [69].…”

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection in Beijing, China

“…The reduction of developed countries was about 40%, [32][33][34] whereas in developing countries, it was over 60%. 32,33 However, this reduction was predominantly oberserved at the early stage of the pandemic, and it gradually recovered up as the epidemic continued. 35,36 It's worth thinking about that preventive health services in undevelped and developing countris took a severe hit and have been the slowest to resume baseline services.…”

“…which caused a drastic decline in cervical cancer population screening in most countries around the world. The reduction of developed countries was about 40%, 32–34 whereas in developing countries, it was over 60% 32,33 . However, this reduction was predominantly oberserved at the early stage of the pandemic, and it gradually recovered up as the epidemic continued 35,36 .…”

Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer actions in a Brazilian state

“…A Danish survey observed a drop in breast cancer screening shortly after the pandemic was decreed, even though the country maintained the breast cancer screening procedure in the pandemic period. 16 While in an Irish study 30.5% of women reported experiencing disruption in breast cancer services, and thus impacts of COVID-19. 17 In the state of Pará, through this study, a reduction in the registration of screening and diagnostic tests performed in 2020 was identified.…”