The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care: lessons learnt from a major paediatric oncology department in Turkey.

Mustafa Tezer Kutluk,Ferah Yıldız,İnci Yaman Bajin,Saniye Ekinci,Eren Müngen,Meral Kirazlı,Fahad Ahmed

doi:10.3332/ecancer.2021.1172

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer care. An audit at a major Paediatric Oncology Department in Turkey was performed to determine its impact on paediatric cancer care. A comparison was made among the number of daily paediatric cancer patients, diagnostic and treatment procedures. The data for the ‘COVID-19 period’ (10 March to 31 October 2020) were compared with the corresponding ‘prior year control period’ (10 March to 31 October 2019). Moreover, presentation delay (duration between first symptoms to healthcare visit) was calculated for new cases. The findings indicate that the mean 34.7 outpatients per day during ‘COVID-19 period’ was significantly lower than the ‘prior year control period’ (52.2). There were 17.7 inpatients per day during the ‘COVID-19 period’ which was significantly lower than 23.8 inpatients per day during the ‘prior year control period’. Significant reduction in the daily mean number of patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and imaging studies during the ‘COVID-19 period’ was also evident. A negative trend in the diagnosis of new paediatric cancers was evident with 128 new cancer cases during the ‘COVID-19 period’, whereas the corresponding number was 212 for the ‘prior year control period’. The presentation delay (median 31 days) remain unchanged during the ‘COVID-19 period’. The findings suggest significant damage to paediatric cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate obligatory actions by oncology societies and policymakers can minimise longer term negative impacts.

Highlights

After the occurrence of the first cases of COVID-19 in China in December [1], Turkey faced the first COVID-19 case on 10 March [2], followed by a major pandemic and crisis within a few weeks around the globe
There were a total of 5,515 visits to the paediatric oncology outpatient department during the ‘COVID-19 period’
This accounts for a mean of 34.7 patients per day and was significantly lower compared to ‘the prior year control period’ (50.2 patients per day; p < 0.00001)

Summary

Introduction

After the occurrence of the first cases of COVID-19 in China in December [1], Turkey faced the first COVID-19 case on 10 March [2], followed by a major pandemic and crisis within a few weeks around the globe. Strict measures have been adopted nationwide to protect people’s safety This includes closure of borders and domestic travel restrictions, use of personal protective equipment and maintenance of social distancing, closure of schools, religious places, restaurants and shopping malls, cancellation of the social gatherings and meetings, partial stay home orders and weekend lock-downs in major cities during the following weeks; healthcare providers witnessed huge number of regulations, mandatory precautions and recommendations at the national level by the MoH, the University level by the President of the University, Hospital Management and Infection Control Committee [5,6,7]

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