229 (PB-053) Poster - COVID-19, breast cancer care, and social determinants of health: a cross-sectional study to investigate the impact of a pandemic on health and health care

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to understand the immediate impact on overall health and health care utilisation for women living with and beyond breast cancer (LWBC) specific to breast cancer during COVID-19, and whether the impact varied by social determinants of health (SDH). Methods: This cross-sectional study included women living in Ireland and diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) in the past five years and was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021 (during the period of COVID-19 restrictions). Chi-Square tests and multivariate regression analyses were used to measure associations between predictors (COVID-19 impact, SDH, clinical characteristics) and outcomes (disrupted health services and quality of life). Results: There were n = 387 responses and 30.5% of women reported a high COVID-19 impact, which was significantly associated with age, region, and employment status. 54.5% of women reported disrupted breast cancer (BC) care. In multivariable analyses, younger women, women in post-active treatment, and women further removed from their initial BC diagnosis reported significantly more disruption to BC care. Also, women who reported a high COVID-19 impact reported significantly lower quality of life (QoL) scores; women of younger age and non-employed also reported significantly lower QoL scores. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted women LWBC in Ireland which varied by SDH including age, region, and employment status. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on women LWBC and how the health system in Ireland specific to BC has responded to COVID-19. No conflict of interest.