COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Croatia: A Population- and Registry-Based Study

The oncologist

article

Eduard Vrdoljak¹  Ingrid Belac Lovasić²  Josipa Flam³  Snježana Tomić⁴  Melita Perić Balja⁵  Zlatko Marušić⁶  Manuela Avirović⁷  Valerija Blažičević⁸  Čedna Tomasović⁹  Dora Čerina¹  Žarko Bajić^1,10  Branka Petrić Miše¹ 

[1] Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, School of Medicine, University of Split;Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka;Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek;Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Split;Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital Centre Sisters of Mercy;Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb;Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka;Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek;Department of Pathology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava;Research unit “Dr. Mirko Grmek, ” University Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan

关键词: COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    Coronavirus;    Pandemic;    Breast cancer;    Lockdown;   

DOI  :  10.1002/onco.13791

学科分类：地质学

来源: AlphaMed Press Incorporated

【 摘 要 】

Background Our objective was to assess the effects of COVID-19 antiepidemic measures and subsequent changes in the function of the health care system on the number of newly diagnosed breast cancers in the Republic of Croatia. Subjects, Materials, and Methods We performed a retrospective, population- and registry-based study during 2020. The comparator was the number of patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer during 2017, 2018, and 2019. The outcome was the change in number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. Results The average monthly percent change after the initial lockdown measures were introduced was −11.0% (95% confidence interval − 22.0% to 1.5%), resulting in a 24% reduction of the newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in Croatia during April, May, and June compared with the same period of 2019. However, during 2020, only 1% fewer new cases were detected than in 2019, or 6% fewer than what would be expected based on the linear trend during 2017–2019. Conclusion It seems that national health care system measures for controlling the spread of COVID-19 had a detrimental effect on the number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in Croatia during the first lockdown. As it is not plausible to expect an epidemiological change to occur at the same time, this may result in later diagnosis, later initiation of treatment, and less favorable outcomes in the future. However, the effect weakened after the first lockdown and COVID-19 control measures were relaxed, and it has not reoccurred during the second COVID-19 wave. Although the COVID-19 lockdown affected the number of newly diagnosed breast cancers, the oncology health care system has shown resilience and compensated for these effects by the end of 2020. Implications for Practice It is possible to compensate for the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic control measures on breast cancer diagnosis relatively promptly, and it is of crucial importance to do it as soon as possible. Moreover, as shown by this study's results on the number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases during the second wave of the pandemic, these adverse effects are preventable to a non-negligible extent.

【 授权许可】

CC BY|CC BY-NC