Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the performance of endoscopy in the Tohoku region of Japan

Iijima, Katsunori; Matsuhashi, Tamotsu; Shimodaira, Yosuke; Mikami, Taisei; Yoshimura, Teizo; Yanai, Shunichi; Kudara, Norihiko; Tsuji, Takeshi; Matsushita, Hirokazu; Watanabe, Hiroyuki; Koike, Tomoyuki; Kato, Kanefusa; Abe, Yasuhiko; Shirahata, Nakao; Hikichi, Takuto; Katakura, Kyoko; Kono, Koji; Sakuraba, Hirotake; Ueno, Yoshiyuki; Ohira, Hiromasa; Masamune, Atsushi; Matsumoto, Takayuki; Fukuda, Shinsaku

doi:10.1002/deo2.249

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…20 Additionally, the number of endoscopies has temporarily decreased during the early period of the pandemic, possibly owing to the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society recommendation of postponing or canceling non-emergency gastrointestinal endoscopies. 17,21 Consequently, a decline in the number of gastric cancer diagnoses, especially for early-stage cancer, was confirmed in a previous study using a nationwide hospital-based cancer registry in Japan. 22 Endoscopic resection is performed for intramucosal carcinoma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gastric surgery in Japan: A nationwide study using interrupted time‐series analyses

Fujita,

Yamaguchi,

Nagashima

et al. 2024

J of Gastro and Hepatol

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Background and AimChanges in the number of surgeries for gastric cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have been reported, but data are insufficient to understand the impact at the national level. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gastric surgery in Japan.MethodsInsurance claims data registered from January 2015 to January 2021 were used. Changes in the number of endoscopic resections and gastrectomies for gastric cancer were estimated using an interrupted time‐series analysis.ResultsThe number of endoscopic resections significantly decreased in July 2020 (−1565; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2022, −1108) and January 2021 (−539; 95% CI: −970, −109), and the number of laparoscopic surgeries significantly decreased in July 2020 (−795; 95% CI: −1097, −492), October 2020 (−313; 95% CI: −606, −19), and January 2021 (−507; 95% CI: −935, −78). Meanwhile, the number of open gastrectomies remained unchanged, and the number of robot‐assisted gastrectomies steadily increased since their coverage by public health insurance in April 2018.ConclusionsThe decreased number of endoscopic resections and laparoscopic surgeries in Japan suggests a decline in early‐stage gastric cancer diagnosis, likely due to the suspension of gastric cancer screening and diagnostic testing during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the number of open and robot‐assisted gastrectomies remained unchanged and increased, respectively, indicating that these applications were not affected by the pandemic‐related medical crisis. These findings highlight that procedures for cancer diagnosis, including screening, should still be provided during pandemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gastric surgery in Japan: A nationwide study using interrupted time‐series analyses

Fujita,

Yamaguchi,

Nagashima

et al. 2024

J of Gastro and Hepatol

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“…In FY2020, the number of gastric malignant tumor resections and upper gastrointestinal endoscopies decreased to 86.4% and 87.7%, respectively, compared with FY2019. This decline is attributed to fewer cancer screenings and endoscopic examinations and delays in treatment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (23,24); however, these showed recovery in FY2021. Over time, the numbers of total gastrectomies and open gastrectomies have decreased, with those of open total gastrectomies and open distal gastrectomies having decreased by about half.…”

Section: (Which Was Not Certified By Peer Review)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical epidemiology of the endoscopic, laparoscopic, and surgical resection of malignant gastric tumors in Japan, 2014-2021: a retrospective study using open data from a national claims database

Sako,

Yada,

Fujiya

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancers and incidence is high in East Asia. Resection of gastric malignant tumor includes several choices from endoscopic resection of early-stage cancer to open surgery of total gastrectomy. However, nationwide data of gastric resection has been lacking. Methods: This is observational study using open data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims, which covered most claims data from national health insurance. We described the secular trend of each type of resection for gastric malignant tumor, age and sex distribution, and regional disparity for the period of 2014-2021. Results: The annual number of resections was highest (109 thousand) in 2015 and dropped to 90 thousand in 2020 after the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The proportion of endoscopic resection has been increasing from 47% in 2014 to 57% in 2021. The proportion of total gastrectomy has been decreasing from 17% in 2014 to 10% in 2021. Male patients accounted for 70% of resection in 2021. Patients aged ≥ 65 years accounted for 83.8% of all types of gastric resection and 87.1% of ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection), respectively. The annual incidence of gastric resection per million general population was highest in Tottori (1,236) and lowest in Okinawa (251). The proportion of endoscopic resection was highest in Miyagi (66%) and lowest in Aichi (45%). The proportion of open surgery was highest in Aomori (36%), and lowest in Wakayama (5%). Conclusions: ESD and robotic surgery has been increasing and open and total gastrectomy has been decreasing. There are large regional disparities in the choice of resection. Standardization of screening and treatment, and even distribution of specialists are crucial.

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Editorial: Comparisons of COVID-19-related disturbance in diagnosis of esophagogastric cancer between the Netherlands and Japan

Iijima,

Watanabe,

Shimodaira

2023

J Gastroenterol

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Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the performance of endoscopy in the Tohoku region of Japan

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gastric surgery in Japan: A nationwide study using interrupted time‐series analyses

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gastric surgery in Japan: A nationwide study using interrupted time‐series analyses

Clinical epidemiology of the endoscopic, laparoscopic, and surgical resection of malignant gastric tumors in Japan, 2014-2021: a retrospective study using open data from a national claims database

Editorial: Comparisons of COVID-19-related disturbance in diagnosis of esophagogastric cancer between the Netherlands and Japan

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