Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Diagnosis and Treatment Delays in Urological Disease: Single-Institution Experience

Nomograms for Predicting Overall and Cancer-Specific Survival Among Second Primary Endometrial Cancer in Primary Colorectal Carcinoma Patients

Background

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most frequent gynecologic cancers, approximately 20% of patients are regarded as high-risk with poor prognosis. However, more details of patients with second primary endometrial cancer (SPEC) after colorectal cancer (CRC) remain poorly understood. We therefore proposed to construct two nomograms to predict 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates to facilitate clinical application.

Methods

A total of 1631 participants were identified in the SEER database from 1973 to 2020. We constructed and validated the nomograms for predicting OS and CSS. The receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plot, decision curve analysis, C-index, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination improvement were applied to evaluate the predictive performance. Finally, the Prognostic index was calculated and used for risk stratification of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis based on different treatment options.

Results

Nomograms of OS and CSS were formulated based on the independent prognostic factors utilizing the training set. The 3- and 5- years of OS nomogram demonstrated good discrimination (AUC = 0.840 and 0.829, respectively), well-calibrated power, and excellent clinical effectiveness. Our nomograms of predicting OS and CSS had a concordance index of 0.801 and 0.866 compared with 0.676 and 0.746 for the AJCC staging system, and more importantly, demonstrated a better forecast accuracy. Chemoradiotherapy displayed a significant survival benefit in the high-risk groups, but proceeding to surgery plus chemotherapy showed a favorable survival for the low groups based on all patients.

Conclusion

We developed and internally validated multivariable models that predict OS and CSS risk of SPEC in patients with a CRC to help clinicians make applicable clinical decisions for patients.

Identifying predictors of COVID-related delays in cancer-specific medical care

PURPOSE

Evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer prevention and control is growing, but little is known about patient-level factors associated with delayed care. We analyzed data from a survey focused on Iowan cancer patients' COVID-19 experiences in the early part of the pandemic.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center's Patients Enhancing Research Collaborations at Holden (PERCH) program. We surveyed respondents on demographic characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and reactions, and delays in any cancer-related health care appointment, or cancer-related treatment appointments. Two-sided significance tests assessed differences in COVID-19 experiences and reactions between those who experienced delays and those who did not.

RESULTS

There were 780 respondents (26% response), with breast, prostate, kidney, skin, and colorectal cancers representing the majority of respondents. Delays in cancer care were reported by 29% of respondents. In multivariable-adjusted models, rural residents (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.03, 2.11) and those experiencing feelings of isolation (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.37, 3.47) were more likely to report any delay, where experiencing financial difficulties predicted delays in treatment appointments (OR 5.72; 95% CI 1.96, 16.67). Health insurance coverage and concern about the pandemic were not statistically significantly associated with delays.

CONCLUSION

These findings may inform cancer care delivery during periods of instability when treatment may be disrupted by informing clinicians about concerns that patients have during the treatment process. Future research should assess whether delays in cancer care impact long-term cancer outcomes and whether delays exacerbate existing disparities in cancer outcomes.

Patient delay in chronic kidney disease: A qualitative study

This study aimed to investigate the reasons for patient delay in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and provide a scientific basis for implementing effective interventions. With the adoption of the phenomenological method in qualitative research, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 14 cases, and the Colaizzi seven-step analysis method was used to analyze the interview data and refine the themes. A total of 4 themes were obtained, namely, a cognitive explanation of illness, negative psychological emotions, socioeconomic levels, and limited medical resources. The current status of patient delay in chronic kidney disease is serious, and there are various reasons for it. Health management departments and healthcare providers at all levels should pay attention to this situation and provide targeted supportive interventions and health education to help patients establish the correct awareness of medical consultation and effectively improve their quality of survival.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The healthcare level has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic compared with before the outbreak. This study aimed to review the impact of COVID-19 on the screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHOD

The current study was designed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. The keywords used to perform the search strategy were COVID-19 and prostate neoplasms. The four primary electronic databases comprising PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase were searched until 1 September 2022. After screening and selecting studies through the EndNote software, data were extracted from each included study by two independent authors. All studies were evaluated according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool.

RESULTS

As a result, 40 studies were included, categorised into two subjects. The majority of studies indicated a significant decrease in screening prostate-specific antibody tests during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic period, leading to delays in cancer diagnosis. The decrease in the number of diagnosed cases with low/intermediate stages to some extent was more than those with advanced stages. The PCa screening and diagnosis reduction ranged from nearly 0% to 78% and from 4.1% to 71.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed that during the COVID-19 lockdown, delays in PCa screening tests and diagnoses led to the negative health effects on patients with PCa. Thus, it is highly recommended performing regular cancer screening to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021291656.

Reconstruction surgery in head and neck cancer patients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Current practice and lessons for the future

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a radical change in daily life and work routine. In this context, health systems have suffered important and serious repercussions in all fields. Among the changes brought about by the state of global health emergency, adjustments to guidelines, priorities, structures, professional teams, and epidemiological data stand out. In light of this, the oncological field has witnessed several changes in the approach to cancer, whether due to delay in diagnosis, screening deficit, personnel shortage or the psychological impact that the pandemic has had on cancer patients. This article focuses on the management of oral carcinoma and the surgical approaches that oral and maxillofacial specialists have had at their disposal during the health emergency. In this period, the oral and maxillofacial surgeons have faced many obstacles. The proximity of maxillofacial structures to the airways, the need of elective and punctual procedures in cancerous lesions, the aggressiveness of head and neck tumors, and the need for important healthcare costs to support such delicate surgeries are examples of some of the challenges imposed for this field. One of the possible surgical 'solutions' to the difficulties in managing surgical cases of oral carcinoma during the pandemic is locoregional flaps, which in the pre-COVID-19 era were less used than free flaps. However, during the health emergency, its use has been widely reassessed. This setback may represent a precedent for opening up new reflections. In the course of a long-term pandemic, a reassessment of the validity of different medical and surgical therapeutic approaches should be considered. Finally, given that the pandemic has high-lighted vulnerabilities and shortcomings in a number of ways, including the issues of essential resource shortages, underinvestment in public health services, lack of coordination and versatility among politicians, policymakers and health leaders, resulting in overloaded health systems, rapid case development, and high mortality, a more careful analysis of the changes needed in different health systems to satisfactorily face future emergencies is essential to be carried out. This should be directed especially towards improving the management of health systems, their coordination as well as reviewing related practices, even in the surgical field.

The delay in the diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients during COVID 19 pandemic

Background

To evaluate the newly diagnosed bladder cancer(BC) patients during the pandemic period and compare them with the corresponding last4 years.

Objectives

To document the time schedules of BC patient evaluation and define the possible delays and investigate the reasons.

Methods

Newly diagnosed BC patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumour in the last5 years were retrospectively included to study. The patients were divided into 5 groups. Group-1 was composed of patients diagnosed betweenMarch, 1,2016 -March-1,2017. The patients who were diagnosed in the further corresponding years formed group 2,3 and 4. The last group(Group-5) was composed of patients who were diagnosed during the pandemic period which was between March,1,2020 and March,1,2021. The clinicodemographic properties and diagnostic time schedules of the patients were compared between the groups.

Results

There were56 patients in Group-1,60 patients in Group-2,61 patients in Group-3,68 patients in Group-4, and 58 patients inGroup-5. The mean hospital admission period was102.5±179.0days during the pandemic period which ranged between24.5± 32.0 and38.3±69.1days before thepandemic.(p=0.002)The diagnosis-anesthesia period was significantly higher during the pandemic pandemic period.(p=0.034).

Conclusions

The pandemic period has caused some delays in the diagnosis and treatment of BC patients. Telemonitoring systems may be useful to prevent the possible diagnostic and treatment delays for newly diagnosed BC patients.

High recurrence of lymphedema and influencing factors in discharged breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter, cross-sectional survey

Background

There has been a delay in the detection and treatment of lymphedema in breast cancer patients during the lockdown owing to quarantine and limited social activity. Moreover, this scenario has caused psychosocial issues in these patients. Given that there is scarce information on the prevalence and influence of lymphedema during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of lymphedema recurrence and its influencing factors among discharged breast cancer patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This was a multicenter, cross‐sectional, hospital‐based survey of discharged breast cancer patients was conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic in eight first‐class hospitals in Wuhan, China. The Norman Questionnaire was used to assess lymphedema. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing moderate or severe lymphedema. Differences in living characteristics, anxiety, and depression were compared between the no/mild lymphedema group and the moderate/severe lymphedema groups. Preferences for lymphedema management during the pandemic were determined.

Results

Overall, 202 patients were included in this study, and 191 of them reported recurrent lymphedema (prevalence: 94.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 90.5% to 97.3%). Among them, 134 and 57 had mild and moderate/severe lymphedema, respectively. In 191 patients, the main symptoms were swelling (140; 69.3%) and pain (56, 27.7%). Multivariable regression showed that older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.10), radical surgery (OR = 4.35, 95% CI: 1.54–12.50), and fully complete radiotherapy (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.17–5.87, p = 0.019) were associated with an elevated risk of moderate/severe lymphedema. The moderate/severe lymphedema group experienced a higher rate of anxiety and depression than the no/mild lymphedema group did. Patients equally preferred treatment in the hospital and self‐care at home.

Conclusion

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, high prevalence of lymphedema was observed in patients Age, radical surgery and fully completed radiotherapy were associated with increased risk of severer lymphedema. Meanwhile, the patients with severe lymphedema experienced psychological distress. While the Covid‐19 pandemic was still raging, continuous efforts should be made to identify patient at risk of lymphedema and distribute feasible guidance and education for self‐management in lymphedema.