1
|
Abubakar AK, Kaneda Y, Ozaki A, Saito H, Murakami M, Hori D, Gonda K, Tsubokura M, Tabuchi T. Two-Year-Span Breast Cancer Screening Uptake in Japan after the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association with the COVID-19 Vaccination. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1783. [PMID: 38730735 PMCID: PMC11083585 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
There is limited information on whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased breast cancer screening uptake and if COVID-19 vaccination was associated with an increase in screening uptake. Our study explored the uptake of breast cancer screening in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed its association with the COVID-19 vaccination. We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), a web-based prospective cohort survey, and we included 6110 women without cancer history who were aged 40 to 74 years that participated in the 2012 and 2022 surveys. We examined the regular breast cancer screening uptake before and after the pandemic and employed a multivariable Poisson regression model to seek any association between COVID-19 vaccination and screening uptake. Of 6110, 38.2% regularly participated in screening before the pandemic and 46.9% did so after the pandemic. Individuals unvaccinated due to health reasons (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.29-0.77, p = 0.003) and for other reasons (IRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62-0.86, p < 0.001) were less likely to undergo screening compared to fully vaccinated individuals. There was no long-term decrease in breast cancer screening uptake after the pandemic in Japan. Vaccination was linked to increased uptake, but there was no dose relationship.
Collapse
Grants
- 17H03589, 19K10671, 19K10446, 18H03107, 18H03062, 21H04856, 22K20984, 23K18370) Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grants
- 19K19439 JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists
- 19FA1005, 19FG2001, 19FA1012, 21HA2016 Research Support Program to Apply the Wisdom of the University to tackle COVID-19 Related Emergency Problems, University of Tsukuba, and Health Labor Sciences Research Grant
- 2033648 Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aminu Kende Abubakar
- Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo 104-004, Japan
| | - Yudai Kaneda
- Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan;
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Breast and Thyroid Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima 972-8322, Japan; (A.O.); (K.G.)
- Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima 976-0011, Japan;
| | - Hiroaki Saito
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Fukushima 976-0011, Japan;
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan;
| | - Michio Murakami
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan;
| | - Daisuke Hori
- Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan;
| | - Kenji Gonda
- Breast and Thyroid Center, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima 972-8322, Japan; (A.O.); (K.G.)
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan;
| | - Takahiro Tabuchi
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi 980-0872, Japan;
- Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka 541-8567, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mitoma T, Maki J, Ooba H, Ogawa C, Masuyama H, Tabuchi T. Association of Regular Cervical Cancer Screening with Socioeconomic, COVID-19 Infection and Vaccine Status Among Japanese Population: Cohort Observational Study. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:541-551. [PMID: 38371520 PMCID: PMC10874123 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s453675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Japan has one of the lowest cervical cancer screening coverages. Cancer screening coverage has worsened due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic background, COVID-19 infection history and vaccine status, and regular cervical cancer screening (CCS) during the two years of the COVID-19 era in Japan. Patients and Methods We used data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey, a nationwide, Internet-based, self-report cohort observational study conducted in 2022. The outcome variable was identified by asking whether the participants had undergone CCS within the last two years. Cervical cytology was performed in Japan by brushing the external cervical os. This study used multivariate log-binomial regression models to evaluate inequalities during regular checkups for CCS. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to incorporate the socioeconomic background variables. Results Of the 12,066 participants, 5597 (46.4%) had undergone regular CCS for over two years. The prevalence ratio (PR) of patients who underwent CCS was 0.70 for those in their 20s and 0.78 for those in their 60s, compared to those in their 40s. Socioeconomic inequities were found in the following groups: unemployed/student, unmarried, high school graduate or lower, and household income below 4 million Yen. Our final multivariate analysis revealed that participants who were in their 20s or 60s, had a household income below 4 million Yen, were unmarried, had no annual health check-ups, and were unvaccinated with COVID-19 were at a higher risk of not undergoing CCS. Conclusion The relationship between socioeconomic inequality and CCS hesitancy is prevalent among younger participants. The CCS coverage in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020-2022) was not low compared with the pre-pandemic era.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Mitoma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Jota Maki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hikaru Ooba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Chikako Ogawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hisashi Masuyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tabuchi
- Department of Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Inoue D, Orisaka M, Hirose H, Miyashita H, Yamada S, Tsuyoshi H, Shinagawa A, Kurokawa T, Yoshida Y. Attitudes toward cancer screening in regional Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: An anonymous survey. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:4081-4088. [PMID: 37605505 PMCID: PMC10551611 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about the impact of delayed health check-ups and cancer screenings on cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of cancer patients on future screening measures during the pandemic in rural Japan. An anonymized open-data survey was undertaken in Fukui Prefecture, a rural region of Japan, in 2021. Participants were asked about their cancer screening history, screening frequency during the pandemic, and reasons for not undergoing screening. Among the 1262 respondents, the proportion of patients who underwent cancer screening in 2020 during the pandemic was similar to the proportion who underwent regular (annual or biannual) screening in 2019 before the pandemic. Of those who underwent regular screening, 82% still underwent screening in 2020, while only 21% of those who had irregular screenings. The number of respondents who believed they were healthy and did not require screening increased over time, possibly due to restrictions on going out and refraining from activities during the pandemic. This study in rural Japan found that regular cancer screening prior to the pandemic was associated with a more positive attitude toward screening during the pandemic. Raising awareness about the importance of cancer screening and encouraging participation is crucial for promoting positive attitudes in the future. The findings highlight the need for continued efforts to ensure access to screening services during the pandemic and future public health emergencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Inoue
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Makoto Orisaka
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Hiroaki Hirose
- Department of Health and WelfareFukui PrefectureFukuiJapan
| | | | - Shizuka Yamada
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Hideaki Tsuyoshi
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Akiko Shinagawa
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Tetsuji Kurokawa
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| | - Yoshio Yoshida
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of FukuiFukuiJapan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tanaka H, Togawa K, Katanoda K. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality trends in Japan: a reversal in 2021? A descriptive analysis of national mortality data, 1995-2021. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071785. [PMID: 37652585 PMCID: PMC10476106 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in mortality in most countries in 2020, deviating from prior decreasing trends. In Japan, however, mortality was suggested to decrease in 2020. This study investigated long-term mortality trends and cause-specific contributions, focusing on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. DESIGN We analysed Japanese age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) from 1995 to 2021 using vital statistics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The cause-specific annual ASMR changes were calculated in comparison with the previous year over the abovementioned period. RESULTS There was a general downward trend in overall ASMR for both sexes until 2020 followed by a small increase in 2021. In men, the all-cause ASMR (per 100 000 persons) decreased from 1352.3 to 1328.8 in 2020 (-1.74% from 2019), and increased to 1356.3 in 2021 in men (+2.07% from 2020). In women, the all-cause ASMR decreased from 746.0 to 722.1 in 2020 (-3.20% from 2019), and increased to 737.9 (+2.19% from 2020) in 2021. ASMRs from malignant neoplasms, pneumonia, accidents and suicide (men only) continued to decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic while the trend of cardiovascular mortality increased in 2021. Analysis of ASMR changes revealed that COVID-19, senility, cardiovascular disease and 'other causes not classified as major causes' contributed to the all-cause mortality increase in 2021. CONCLUSIONS In Japan, the decreasing trend in overall mortality continued in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. However, approximately 2% mortality increase was observed in 2021, which was attributable to COVID-19, senility, cardiovascular disease and 'other causes'. The year 2021 was a turning point of mortality trends in Japan, although continued monitoring is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Tanaka
- Division of Population Data Science, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kayo Togawa
- Division of Population Data Science, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kota Katanoda
- Division of Population Data Science, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Myers C, Bennett K, Cahir C. Breast cancer care amidst a pandemic: a scoping review to understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on health services and health outcomes. Int J Qual Health Care 2023; 35:mzad048. [PMID: 37497806 PMCID: PMC10373113 DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health services for breast cancer (BC) have been disrupted. Our scoping review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC services, health outcomes, and well-being for women. Additionally, this review identifies social inequalities specific to BC during the pandemic. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines, the literature search was conducted using scientific databases starting from March 2020 through November 2021. Studies were identified and selected by two researchers based on inclusion criteria, and the relevant data were extracted and charted to summarize the findings. Ninety-three articles were included in this review. Main themes included are as follows: (i) the impact of COVID-19 on BC services; (ii) the impact of COVID-19 on health outcomes and well-being in women with BC; and (iii) any variation in the impact of COVID-19 on BC by social determinants of health. There were apparent disruptions to BC services across the cancer continuum, especially screening services. Clinical repercussions were a result of such disruptions, and women with BC experienced worsened quality of life and psychosocial well-being. Finally, there were social inequalities dependent on social determinants of health such as age, race, insurance status, and region. Due to the disruption of BC services during the COVID-19 pandemic, women were impacted on their health and overall well-being. The variation in impact demonstrates how health inequities have been exacerbated during the pandemic. This comprehensive review will inform timely health-care changes to minimize long-term impacts of the pandemic and improve evidence-based multidisciplinary needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Myers
- School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science, Dublin D02 DH60, Ireland
| | - Kathleen Bennett
- Data Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science, Dublin D02 DH60, Ireland
| | - Caitriona Cahir
- Data Science Centre, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science, Dublin D02 DH60, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Workload of Diagnostic Radiology: A 2-Year Observational Study in a Tertiary Referral Hospital. Acad Radiol 2023; 30:276-284. [PMID: 35781400 PMCID: PMC9186449 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on diagnostic imaging workload in a tertiary referral hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS Radiological examinations performed in pre-pandemic period (2015-2019) and in pandemic period (2020-2021) were retrospectively included. Based on epidemiological data and restriction measures, four pandemic waves were identified. For each of them, the relative change (RC) in workload was calculated and compared to the 5-year averaged workload in the corresponding pre-COVID-19 periods. Workload variations were also assessed according to technique (radiographs, CT, MRI, ultrasounds), body district (chest, abdomen, breast, musculoskeletal, head/neck, brain/spine, cardiovascular) and care setting (inpatient, outpatient, emergency imaging, pre-admission imaging). RESULTS A total of 1384380 examinations were included. In 2020 imaging workload decreased (RC = -11%) compared to the average of the previous 5 years, while in 2021 only a minimal variation (RC = +1%) was observed. During first wave, workload was reduced for all modalities, body regions and types of care setting (RC from -86% to -10%), except for CT (RC = +3%). In subsequent waves, workload increased only for CT (mean RC = +18%) and, regarding body districts, for breast (mean RC = +23%) and cardiovascular imaging (mean RC = +23%). For all other categories, a workload comparable to pre-pandemic period was almost only restored in the fourth wave. In all pandemics periods workload decrease was mainly due to reduced outpatient activity (p < 0.001), while inpatient and emergency imaging was increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Evaluating imaging workload changes throughout COVID-19 pandemic helps to understand the response dynamics of radiological services and to improve institutional preparedness to face extreme contingency.
Collapse
|
7
|
Effects of the
COVID
‐19 pandemic on gastroenterological surgeries in 2020: A study using the National Clinical Database of Japan. Ann Gastroenterol Surg 2022; 7:407-418. [PMID: 37152784 PMCID: PMC10154870 DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim This study aimed to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease pandemic on the number of surgeries for gastroenterological cancer cases in Japan. Methods The data recorded in the National Clinical Database of Japan between 2018 and 2020 were utilized for this study. Five specific surgeries for primary cancers and surgery for acute diffuse peritonitis were considered the primary endpoints. We divided the study period into the prepandemic and postpandemic (after April 2020) periods and examined the number of surgeries in relation to clinical factors. Results Overall, 228 860 surgeries were analyzed. Among the five primary cancer surgeries, the number of distal gastrectomies for gastric cancer decreased the most (to 81.0% of the monthly number in the prepandemic period), followed by that of low anterior resections for rectal cancer (91.4%). In contrast, the number of pancreaticoduodenectomies for pancreatic cancer increased by 7.1%, while that of surgeries for peritonitis remained stable. This trend was observed nationwide. We also noted a marked reduction in the number of distal gastrectomy (to 72.5%), low anterior resection (84.0%), and esophagectomy (88.8%) procedures for T1 tumors. The noncurative resection rate and mortalities were low despite the increased proportion of T4 tumors and older patients. Conclusion A marked reduction in surgeries for gastric and rectal cancers with early T factors may reflect prioritization of surgeries and reduction in cancer screenings. Although the quality of the surgery was maintained in terms of reduced mortalities and morbidities, the long-term effects of this pandemic should be monitored.
Collapse
|
8
|
Fukushige M, Ngo NH, Lukmanto D, Fukuda S, Ohneda O. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on antibiotic consumption: A systematic review comparing 2019 and 2020 data. Front Public Health 2022; 10:946077. [PMID: 36330124 PMCID: PMC9623150 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.946077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced antibiotic consumption over a long period, with variability in trends among studies. We conducted this systematic review to explore and compare the effect of the pandemic on overall and individual antibiotic consumption in 2020 with that in 2019. Methods This systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. Data on antibiotic consumption in Japan was sourced from the Japan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption. Results A total of 1,442 articles and reports were screened, and 16 eligible articles were reviewed. The included studies were conducted in Jordan, Australia, Canada, UK, Japan, Brazil, India, China, and the EU. There was no study from African and Southeast Asian Countries. Overall, antibiotic consumption in the community consistently reduced in 2020. Studies from Australia, Canada, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Japan, and the European Union reported both decreases in overall and selected individual antibiotics consumption. In contrast, hospital-based studies reported both increases and decreases. Hospital-based studies in Lebanon, Spain, Italy, India, and the UK reported an increase in antibiotic consumption in 2020. Studies reporting an interruption of antibiotic stewardship programs during the pandemic also reported increases in antibiotic consumption for hospitalized patients in 2020 compared with that in 2019. Conclusion Our results showed a different trend between communities and hospitals in antibiotic consumption during 2020 compared to 2019. The continuity of the antibiotic stewardship program might have influenced the antibiotic consumption trend variability among hospitals in 2020. Alongside this, the lack of information on antibiotic consumption from low-income countries and limited reports from middle-income countries revealed gaps that need to be urgently filled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mizuho Fukushige
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,*Correspondence: Mizuho Fukushige
| | - Nhat-Hoang Ngo
- Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Donny Lukmanto
- Laboratory of Advanced Vision Science, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shinichi Fukuda
- Laboratory of Advanced Vision Science, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Osamu Ohneda
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan,Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tani N, Fukuda H. Medical visits and health-care expenditures of patients attending orthopedic clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: LIFE Study. Int J Qual Health Care 2022; 34:6634945. [PMID: 35808994 PMCID: PMC9278191 DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first state of emergency for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan was imposed from April to May 2020. During that period, people were urged to avoid non-essential outings, which may have reduced their access to health care. METHODS Using health-care claims data from a city in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of the state of emergency's impact on patients' medical visits to orthopedic clinics and their associated health-care expenditures. These measures were compared between 2019 and 2020 using a year-over-year analysis and unpaired t-tests. RESULTS The analysis showed that medical visits in 2020 significantly decreased by 23.7% in April (P < 0.01) and 17.6% in May (P < 0.01) when compared with the previous year. Similarly, monthly outpatient health-care expenditure significantly decreased by 2.4% (P < 0.01) in April 2020 when compared with April 2019. In contrast, the health-care expenditure per capita per visit significantly increased by 1.5% (P < 0.01) in June 2020 (after the state of emergency was lifted) when compared with June 2019. CONCLUSION As orthopedic clinics in Japan are reimbursed using a fee-for-service system, the increases in per capita expenditures after the state of emergency may be indicative of physician-induced demand. However, we posit that it is more likely that a post-emergency increase in anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatments for spondylopathies, low back pain and sciatica induced a temporary rise in these expenditures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naomichi Tani
- Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,Health Information Analysis Section, The Association for Preventive Medicine of Japan, 3-19-5 Hakataekimae Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0011, Japan
| | - Haruhisa Fukuda
- Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 3-1-1 Maidashi Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bosch G, Posso M, Louro J, Roman M, Porta M, Castells X, Macià F. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screening indicators in a Spanish population-based program: a cohort study. eLife 2022; 11:77434. [PMID: 35686727 PMCID: PMC9212994 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: To assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on performance indicators in the population-based breast cancer screening program of Parc de Salut Mar (PSMAR), Barcelona, Spain. Methods: We conducted a before-and-after, study to evaluate participation, recall, false positives, the cancer detection rate, and cancer characteristics in our screening population from March 2020 to March 2021 compared with the four previous rounds (2012–2019). Using multilevel logistic regression models, we estimated the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of each of the performance indicators for the COVID-19 period, controlling by type of screening (prevalent or incident), socioeconomic index, family history of breast cancer, and menopausal status. We analyzed 144,779 invitations from 47,571women. Results: During the COVID-19 period, the odds of participation were lower in first-time invitees (aOR = 0.90 [95% CI = 0.84–0.96]) and in those who had previously participated regularly and irregularly (aOR = 0.63 [95% CI = 0.59–0.67] and aOR = 0.95 [95% CI = 0.86–1.05], respectively). Participation showed a modest increase in women not attending any of the previous rounds (aOR = 1.10 [95% CI = 1.01–1.20]). The recall rate decreased in both prevalent and incident screening (aOR = 0.74 [95% CI = 0.56–0.99] and aOR = 0.80 [95% CI = 0.68–0.95], respectively). False positives also decreased in both groups (prevalent aOR = 0.92 [95% CI = 0.66–1.28] and incident aOR = 0.72 [95% CI = 0.59–0.88]). No significant differences were observed in compliance with recall (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.76–2.23), cancer detection rate (aOR = 0.91 [95% CI = 0.69–1.18]), or cancer stages. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected screening attendance, especially in previous participants and newcomers. We found a reduction in recall and false positives and no marked differences in cancer detection, indicating the robustness of the program. There is a need for further evaluations of interval cancers and potential diagnostic delays. Funding: This study has received funding by grants PI19/00007 and PI21/00058, funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and cofunded by the European Union and Grant RD21/0016/0020 funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and by the European Union NextGenerationEU, Mecanismo para la Recuperación y la Resiliencia (MRR).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Bosch
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Preventive Medicine and Public Health Training Unit PSMar-ASPB-UPF, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margarita Posso
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Louro
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Roman
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miquel Porta
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Hospital del Mar Institute of Medical Research (IMIM PSMar), Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Castells
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Macià
- Department of Epidemiology and Evaluation,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kuroda N, Kubota T, Horinouchi T, Ikegaya N, Kitazawa Y, Kodama S, Kuramochi I, Matsubara T, Nagino N, Neshige S, Soga T, Takayama Y, Sone D. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on epilepsy care in Japan: A national-level multicenter retrospective cohort study. Epilepsia Open 2022; 7:431-441. [PMID: 35633311 PMCID: PMC9348370 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on epilepsy care across Japan was investigated by conducting a multicenter retrospective cohort study. METHODS This study included monthly data on the frequency of (1) visits by outpatients with epilepsy, (2) outpatient electroencephalography (EEG) studies, (3) telemedicine for epilepsy, (4) admissions for epilepsy, (5) EEG monitoring, and (6) epilepsy surgery in epilepsy centers and clinics across Japan between January 2019 and December 2020. We defined the primary outcome as epilepsy-center-specific monthly data divided by the 12-month average in 2019 for each facility. We determined whether the COVID-19 pandemic-related factors (such as year [2019 or 2020], COVID-19 cases in each prefecture in the previous month, and the state of emergency) were independently associated with these outcomes. RESULTS In 2020, the frequency of outpatient EEG studies (-10.7%, p<0.001) and cases with telemedicine (+2,608%, p=0.031) were affected. The number of COVID-19 cases was an independent associated factor for epilepsy admission (-3.75*10-3 % per case, p<0.001) and EEG monitoring (-3.81*10-3 % per case, p = 0.004). Further, the state of emergency was an independent factor associated with outpatient with epilepsy (-11.9%, p<0.001), outpatient EEG (-32.3%, p<0.001), telemedicine for epilepsy (+12,915%, p<0.001), epilepsy admissions (-35.3%; p<0.001), EEG monitoring (-24.7%: p<0.001), and epilepsy surgery (-50.3%, p<0.001). SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrated the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on epilepsy care. These results support those of previous studies and clarify the effect size of each pandemic-related factor on epilepsy care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Kuroda
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State UniversityDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Takafumi Kubota
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Cleveland Medical CenterCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Toru Horinouchi
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurologyHokkaido University Graduate School of MedicineSapporoJapan
| | - Naoki Ikegaya
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of MedicineYokohama City UniversityYokohamaJapan
| | - Yu Kitazawa
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Neurology and Stroke MedicineYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
| | - Satoshi Kodama
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of MedicineThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Izumi Kuramochi
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Psychiatry, Saitama Medical CenterSaitama Medical UniversitySaitamaJapan
| | - Teppei Matsubara
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical ImagingMassachusetts General HospitalCharlestownMassachusettsUSA
| | - Naoto Nagino
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Epilepsy Center, TMG Asaka Medical CenterSaitamaJapan
| | - Shuichiro Neshige
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima UniversityGraduate School of Biomedical and Health SciencesHiroshimaJapan
| | - Temma Soga
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of EpileptologyTohoku University Graduate School of MedicineMiyagiJapan
| | - Yutaro Takayama
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Center HospitalNational Center of Neurology and PsychiatryTokyoJapan
| | - Daichi Sone
- Japan Young Epilepsy Section (YES‐Japan)TokyoJapan
- Department of Clinical and Experimental EpilepsyUCL Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Women's attitudes towards healthy life awareness and breast cancer screening during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a cross-sectional descriptive study. Eur J Cancer Prev 2022; 31:346-353. [PMID: 35579177 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of coronavirus infection has caused individuals to hesitate to access medical services and postpone their participation in diagnostic and screening programs. With this research, it was aimed to examine the relationship between women's wellness awareness and attitudes towards breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The descriptive cross-sectional type research was conducted between 30 January 2021 and 30 July 2021. The sample of the study consisted of 396 women between the ages of 40 and 69 who were in the breast cancer screening population under national cancer screening standards and met the criteria for inclusion. The data of the study were collected using a web-based and self-reported questionnaire, Personal Information Form, Healthy Life Awareness Scale and Cancer Screening Attitude Scale. RESULTS It was determined that more than half of women postponed breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reasons for the postponement were often fear of contamination. It was determined that there was a relationship between the participants' awareness of healthy living and their attitudes towards cancer screening (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION It was found that approximately two out of every three women in the screening population during the pandemic did not have screening or postponed it due to fear of contamination. It was determined that women who had awareness of healthy living and had breast cancer screening before the pandemic had a positive attitude towards cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Collapse
|
13
|
Iijima K, Jin M, Miura M, Watanabe K, Watanabe N, Shimodaira Y, Koizumi S, Tobori F, Motoyama S. Disturbance of Gastrointestinal Cancers Diagnoses by the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Depopulated Area of Japan: A Population-Based Study in Akita Prefecture. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2022; 257:65-71. [PMID: 35387907 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.2022.j020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Iijima
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | - Masahito Miura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Omagari Kosei Medical Center
| | - Kenta Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Noboru Watanabe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Yosuke Shimodaira
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Shigeto Koizumi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | - Satoru Motoyama
- Department of Esophageal Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Kaneda Y, Ozaki A, Wada M, Kurokawa T, Sawano T, Tsubokura M, Tanimoto T, Kanemoto Y, Ejiri T, Kanzaki N. Possible association of Typhoon Hagibis and the COVID‐19 pandemic on patient delay in breast cancer patients: A case report. Clin Case Rep 2022; 10:e05621. [PMID: 35356170 PMCID: PMC8939041 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.5621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known on how different types of disasters interact in their impacts on patient care. We experienced a breast cancer patient whose initial presentation was delayed for 2 years due to the COVID‐19 pandemic and Typhoon Hagibis. Increasing awareness is needed on the combined impacts of disasters on breast cancer management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yudai Kaneda
- School of Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Akihiko Ozaki
- Department of Breast Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Masahiro Wada
- Department of Breast Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery Sano Kosei General Hospital Sano Tochigi Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kurokawa
- Department of Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Toyoaki Sawano
- Department of Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
- Department of Radiation Health Management Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tanimoto
- Department of Internal Medicine Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kanemoto
- Department of Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Tomozo Ejiri
- Department of Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| | - Norio Kanzaki
- Department of Surgery Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation Iwaki Fukushima Japan
| |
Collapse
|