The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the rate of newly diagnosed gynecological and breast cancers: a tertiary center perspective

Katharina Leitner,Katharina Knoll,Christian Marth,Irina Tsibulak,Elisabeth Reiser,Christoph Ebner,Johanna Kögl

doi:10.1007/s00404-021-06259-5

Katharina Leitner, Katharina Knoll + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-021-06259-5

Copy DOI

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to assess the impact of postponed screening examinations and lockdown measures on gynecological and breast cancer diagnoses throughout the year 2020 in a gynecological oncological center in Austria.MethodsData of 889 patients with either newly diagnosed gynecological or breast cancer between January 2019 and December 2020 were collected. Clinical parameters including symptoms, performance status, comorbidities and referral status were compared in patients, who were newly diagnosed with cancer in the period of the first lockdown from March 2020 to April 2020 and the second lockdown from November 2020 to December 2020 and compared to the same period in 2019.ResultsOur results showed a strong decline in newly diagnosed cancers during the lockdown periods: −45% in gynecological cancer and -52% in breast cancer compared to the same period in 2019. Compared to the analogue period of 2019, breast cancer patients reported significantly more tumor-associated symptoms (55% vs. 31%, p = 0.013) during and in between (48% vs. 32%, p = 0.022) the lockdowns. During the lockdown, periods in the group of breast cancer patients’ tumor stage varied significantly compared to 2019 (T2–T4; p = 0.047).ConclusionBoth lockdowns led to a strong decrease in newly diagnosed gynecological and breast cancers. Treatment delays in potentially curable disease could lead to inferior clinical outcomes, with the risk of missing the optimal treatment window. As the COVID-19 pandemic will be a challenge for some time to come, new strategies in patient care are needed to optimize cancer screening and management during the pandemic.

Highlights

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a challenge for most countries around the world, affecting their healthcare system, and economic development, socio-political attitude, educational and cultural sectors
During the lockdowns, screening examinations and hospital bed capacity were reduced. This led to a strong decline of newly diagnosed cancers during the first and second lockdown: −45% in gynecological cancer and -52% in newly diagnosed breast cancer compared to the same period in 2019
An inverse correlation was found between the number of positively tested COVID-19 patients in the federal state of Tyrol (Austria) and newly diagnosed breast cancer cases at our department during 2020

Summary

Introduction

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a challenge for most countries around the world, affecting their healthcare system, and economic development, socio-political attitude, educational and cultural sectors. The first two patients in Innsbruck, Austria, were diagnosed with (COVID-19) on 25 February 2020. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria’s governmental measures prevented an overload of the healthcare system, as the maximum intensive care bed occupancy only reached 26% [2]. The first lockdown ended on April 3 0st enabling most of public life by the beginning of May. regained freedom of travel and growing get-together trend led to a new escalation of newly diagnosed COVID-19

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion