Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lyon University Hospital Cancer Institute (IC-HCL)

Abstract

This article presents the protective measures put in place at the “Institut de Cancérologie des Hospices de Lyon” (IC-HCL) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France (spring 2020) and how they impacted IC-HCL clinical activity. Spring 2020 activities were compared to winter 2019–2020. Results showed a decrease of activity of 9% for treatment dispensations, 17% for multidisciplinary team meetings, 20% for head and neck and thoracic surgeries, and 58% for new patient enrolment in clinical trials. Characteristics of patients treated for solid cancer and hospitalized for COVID-19 during spring 2020 were collected in a retrospective study. Mortality was attributed to COVID-19 for half of the cases, 82% being patients above 70 and 73% being stage IV. This is in concordance with current findings concluding that the risk of developing severe or critical symptoms of COVID-19 is correlated with factors co-occurring in cancer patients and not to the cancer condition per se. While a number of routines and treatment regimens were changed, there was no major decline in numbers of treatments conducted at the IC-HCL during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit France between March and May 2020, except for clinical trials and some surgery activities.

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on stage and incidence of head and neck cancer: A rapid review and meta‐analysis

“…Referrals followed a similar trend with a mean reduction of 56.85% (range 35%–75%) across four studies 25,37–39 . Three additional studies investigating workload changes within hospital departments with reductions in the numbers of HNC treatments of between 8.91% and 55% 40–42 …”

“…25,[37][38][39] Three additional studies investigating workload changes within hospital departments with reductions in the numbers of HNC treatments of between 8.91% and 55%. [40][41][42]…”

Bio‐ethical issues in oncology during the first wave of the COVID‐19 epidemic: A qualitative study in a French hospital

“…Philippe Beuzeboc, Dr. Laure Ladrat and Dr. Terence Landrin) observed during their clinical activities at the hospital. Cancer does not seem to be a direct, significant susceptibility factor for COVID‐19 31 . Instead, it seems to have only an indirect effect through the effects that most cancers and their treatments, particularly chemotherapy, 34 have in cancer patients.…”

“…Cancer does not seem to be a direct, significant susceptibility factor for COVID‐19. 31 Instead, it seems to have only an indirect effect through the effects that most cancers and their treatments, particularly chemotherapy, 34 have in cancer patients. These effects include episodes of major fatigue, and the cancer patient needing to be bedridden in a confined environment and potentially exposed to the virus for too long a period, as occurs during hospitalization, or even sometimes at home, for these cancer patients.…”

“…2,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30] However, these recommendations had almost no support from published scientific evidence specific to COVID-19 and cancer. 31 The almost complete absence of scientific publications at the very start of epidemic in France was the first major problem to emerge from the discourse of the first oncologist to speak. It was, therefore, impossible for the team to act in accordance with scientific knowledge validated by their peers.…”