Causes and impact of delays during the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer diagnosis.
Head Neck
; 46(9): 2197-2205, 2024 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38665037
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The causes for delays during the COVID19 pandemic and their impact on head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis and staging are not well described.METHODS:
Two cohorts were defined a priori for review and analysis-a Pre-Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2019) and a Pandemic cohort (June 1 to December 31, 2020). Delays were categorized as COVID-19 related or not, and as clinician, patient, or policy related.RESULTS:
A total of 638 HNC patients were identified including 327 in the Pre-Pandemic Cohort and 311 in the Pandemic Cohort. Patients in the Pandemic cohort had more N2-N3 category (41% vs. 33%, p = 0.03), T3-T4 category (63% vs. 50%, p = 0.002), and stage III-IV (71% vs. 58%, p < 0.001) disease. Several intervals in the diagnosis to treatment pathway were significantly longer in the pandemic cohort as compared to the Pre-Pandemic cohort. Among the pandemic cohort, 146 (47%) experienced a delay, with 112 related to the COVID-19 pandemic; 80 (71%) were clinician related, 15 (13%) were patient related, and 17 (15%) were policy related.CONCLUSIONS:
Patients in the Pandemic cohort had higher stage disease at diagnosis and longer intervals along the diagnostic pathway, with COVID-19 related clinician factors being the most common cause of delay.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Diagnóstico Tardio
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COVID-19
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Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço
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Estadiamento de Neoplasias
Limite:
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article