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Kim YK, Park SB, Lee M, Youn JY, Kwak MS, Cha JM. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Performance of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Korean J Gastroenterol 2023; 82:239-247. [PMID: 37997220 DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2023.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Background/Aims Non-time-sensitive gastrointestinal endoscopy was deferred because of the risk of exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but no population-based studies have quantified the adverse impact on gastrointestinal procedures. This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, ERCP, and abdominal ultrasonography (US) in South Korea. Methods This nationwide, population-based study compared the claim data of EGD, colonoscopy, ERCP, and abdominal US in 2020 and 2021 (COVID-19 era) with those in 2019 (before the COVID-19 era). Results During the first year (2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual claim data of EGD and colonoscopy were reduced by 6.3% and 6.9%, respectively, but those of ERCP and abdominal US were increased by 1.0% and 2.9%, compared to those in 2019. During the first surge (March and April 2020) of COVID-19, the monthly claim data of EGD, colonoscopy, ERCP, and abdominal US were reduced by 28.8%, 43.8%, 5.1%, and 21.6%, respectively, in March 2020, and also reduced by 17.2%, 32.8%, 4.4%, and 9.5%, respectively, in April 2020, compared to those in March and April 2019. During March and April 2020, the monthly claims of ERCP, compared with those in 2019, declined less significantly than those of EGD and colonoscopy (both p<0.001). Conclusions The claims of EGD and colonoscopy were reduced more significantly than those of ERCP and abdominal US during the COVID-19 pandemic because ERCPs are time-sensitive procedures and abdominal USs are non-aerosolized procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youn Kyung Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Bee Park
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Moonhyung Lee
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Young Youn
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min Seob Kwak
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Myung Cha
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Koïvogui A, Abihsera G, Le Trong T, Ait-Hadad H, Bernoux A, Delattre H, Vincelet C, Caroll R, Nicolet J. [Évaluation de la gravité du cancer colorectal dépisté dans le contexte de la crise sanitaire liée au COVID19 en région Ile-de-France]. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2023; 71:102124. [PMID: 37451076 PMCID: PMC10291290 DOI: 10.1016/j.respe.2023.102124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After the announcement in March 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs were suspended in several countries. Compared to the lesions detected during previous campaigns, this study aims to assess the severity of CRC detected during the 2020 screening campaign in Île-de-France, the French region most affected by the 1st wave of the pandemic. METHODS The descriptive and etiological study included all faecal immunochemical test (FIT) results carried out between January 2017 and December 2020 on people aged 50-74, living in Île-de-France. First, the proportion of colonoscopies performed within one month (One-month-colo) following FIT; the yield of colonoscopy (proportion of colonoscopies with a neoplasm lesion among those performed) and CRC severity (TNM Classification, Level-0: T0/N0/M0, Level-1: T1/T2/N0/M0, Level-2: T3/T4/N0/M0; Level-3: T3/T4/N1/M0; Level-4: M1) were described in 2020 compared to previous campaigns (2017, 2018, and 2019). Subsequently, the link between the level of CRC severity and the predictive factors, including campaign year and time to colonoscopy, was analysed using polytomous multivariate regression. RESULTS The one-month-colo (2017: 9.1% of 11,529 colonoscopies; 2018: 8.5% of 13,346; 2019: 5.7% of 7,881; 2020: 6.7% of 11,040; p < 0.001), the yield (65.2%, 64.1%, 62.4%, 60.8% respectively, p < 0.001) were significantly different between campaigns. The proportion of CRC level-4 (4.8% in 2017 (653 CRC); 7.6% in 2018 (674 CRC); 4.6% in 2019 (330 CRC) and 4.7% in 2020 (404 CRC); p < 0.29) was not significantly different between campaigns. The probability of having CRC with a high severity level was inversely related to the time to colonoscopy but not to the campaign year. Compared to patients having undergone colonoscopy within 30 days, the odds were significantly reduced by 60% in patients having undergone colonoscopy after 7 months (adjusted Odds-Ratio: 0.4 [0.3; 0.6]; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The French indicators were certainly degraded before the first wave of the COVID-19. The delay in access to colonoscopy as well as its extension induced by the COVID-19 crisis had no impact in terms of cancer severity, due to a discriminatory approach prioritizing patients with evident symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akoï Koïvogui
- CRCDC-IDF, Site de Seine-Saint-Denis, 41 avenue de Verdun, 93146 Bondy, France.
| | - Gaëlle Abihsera
- CRCDC-IDF, Site du Val-de-Marne, Le banc de Sable 7, Quai Gabriel Péri, 94340 Joinville-le-Pont, France
| | - Tu Le Trong
- CRCDC-IDF, Site du Val-d'Oise, Immeuble Le Centaure, 14A Avenue du Centaure, 95800 Cergy Saint-Christophe, France
| | - Hamou Ait-Hadad
- CRCDC-IDF, Site de Seine-et-Marne, 333 Rue Marguerite Perey CS50058, 77563 Lieusaint, France
| | - Agnès Bernoux
- CRCDC-IDF, Site de l'Essonne, Centre Hospitalier de Bligny CS30365, 91640 Fontenay les Briis, France
| | - Hélène Delattre
- CRCDC-IDF, Site des Hauts-de-Seine, 26 rue des Amandiers, 92000 Nanterre, France
| | - Catherine Vincelet
- CRCDC-IDF, Site des Yvelines, 18 av Dutartre, BP 120 - 78153 - Le Chesnay Cedex, France
| | - Rachel Caroll
- CRCDC-IDF, Site du Val-de-Marne, Le banc de Sable 7, Quai Gabriel Péri, 94340 Joinville-le-Pont, France
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Sadeghi A, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Khalafi MA, Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad E, Ketabi Moghadam P, Sohrabi MR. The impact of COVID-19 on national program of colorectal cancer screening in Tehran, Iran: a multicenter study. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:627. [PMID: 37407931 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11111-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of the healthcare system, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation of diseases and health education; access to essential therapies; allocation of finance & facilities to health issues, and governance of diseases, including COVID-19 and other diseases. Consequently, the burden of COVID-19 was not only attributable to the multiorgan involvement and detailed presentation of the disease but also to the inadequate management of other diseases resulting from the exclusive allocation of resources and medical personnel to the pandemic crisis. Over the mentioned period, one observed deficiency was the lack of public and official favor for conventional screening protocols. To this end, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening protocols at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, in an effort to identify individuals at risk for CRC and provide them with intensive screening and therapy. METHODS This is an observational study comparing the number of candidates for CRC screening referred to primary, secondary, and tertiary health-care centers under supervision of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran in a 2-year interval before and after COVID-19 pandemics. Patients with intermediate- and high-risk criteria for colorectal cancer were included in the study and were screened by fecal immunochemical test. Patients with positive or indeterminate fecal test results were further evaluated with colonoscopy in research institute for gastroenterology and liver diseases where is a tertiary referral center for CRC screening. Finally, the decrease percentage of screening tests and endoscopic findings during the pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic period was calculated and interpreted. RESULTS A significant decrease in the number of performed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs), referred positive FITs, and referred patients with positive alarm signs to the Research Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD) center inevitably led to a considerable decrease in the number of endoscopic findings, including high-risk adenomas, sessile serrated polyps, and even early-stage colorectal cancers (CRCs). CONCLUSION The disruption of screening protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic appears to increase the number of patients with high-grade and end-stage CRCs referred in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Sadeghi
- Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei
- Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Khalafi
- Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad
- Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pardis Ketabi Moghadam
- Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Sohrabi
- Community Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran
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Ahmed EM, Farag AS, Abdelwahed MS, Hanbazazh M, Samman A, Ashmawy D, Abd-Elhameed NR, Tharwat M, Othman AE, Shawky TA, Attia RM, Ibrahim AA, Azzam S, Elhussiny MEA, Nasr M, Naeem SA, Abd-Elhay WM, Ali Alfaifi AM, Hasan A. The Expression of Stem Cell Marker LGR5 and Its Coexpression with Β-Catenin in Sporadic Colorectal Carcinoma and Adenoma: A Comparative Immunohistochemical Study. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:1233. [PMID: 37512045 PMCID: PMC10383310 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59071233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Background: LGR5 is one of the most important stem cell markers for colorectal cancer (CRC), as it potentiates Wnt/Β-catenin signaling. The well-characterized deregulation of Wnt/Β-catenin signaling that occurs during adenoma/carcinoma sequence in CRC renders LGR5 a hopeful therapeutic target. We assessed the immunohistochemical expression of LGR5 and Β-catenin in normal colonic and tumorous lesions with a clinicopathological correlation. Methods: Tissue blocks and clinical data of 50 selected cases were included: 8 from normal mucosa, 12 cases of adenoma, and 30 cases of CRC, where sections were cut and re-examined and the immunohistochemical technique was conducted using anti-LGR5 and anti-Β-catenin to measure the staining density. Results: There was no expression of LGR5 in normal mucosa compared to samples of adenoma and CRC samples. The association analysis showed that CRC specimens were more likely to have strong LGR5 and Β-catenin expressions than the other two groups (p = 0.048 and p < 0.001, respectively). Specimens with high-grade dysplastic adenoma were more likely to express moderate-to-strong expression of LGR5 and Β-catenin (p = 0.013 and p = 0.036, respectively). In contrast, there were no statistically significant associations between LGR5 and Β-catenin expression with grade and stage. Conclusion: These results suggest and support the possible role of LGR5 as a potential marker of cancer stem cells in sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis in addition to a prognostic value for LGR5 and Β-catenin in adenomatous lesions according to immunohistochemical expression density. A potential therapeutic role of LGR5 in CRC is suggested for future studies based on its role in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Mohamed Ahmed
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Abeer Said Farag
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Abdelwahed
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mehenaz Hanbazazh
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulhadi Samman
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Diaa Ashmawy
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta 34517, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed Tharwat
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Alyaa E Othman
- Infectious Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41552, Egypt
| | - Taiseer Ahmed Shawky
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Radwa Mohamed Attia
- General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Sherif Azzam
- Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed Nasr
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Suhaib Alsayed Naeem
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Wagih M Abd-Elhay
- Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | | | - Abdulkarim Hasan
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
- Prince Mishari bin Saud Hospital, Ministry of Health, Albahah 22888, Saudi Arabia
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5
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Bharwani A, Li D, Vermund SH. A Review of the Effect of COVID-19-Related Lockdowns on Global Cancer Screening. Cureus 2023; 15:e40268. [PMID: 37448422 PMCID: PMC10336183 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns have led to significant disruptions in preventative health services worldwide. This review aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on worldwide preventive cancer screening participation. Major medical databases were searched using the keywords 'lockdown,' 'cancer,' and 'screening or diagnosis,' and relevant articles were evaluated against inclusion and exclusion criteria. The final review consisted of 38 studies. The impact of COVID-19 on screening uptake was categorized based on cancer type. All types of screening had decreased participation during or around the lockdown period. Racial and socioeconomic disparities, provider-related barriers, and patient attitudes about service disruptions during the pandemic were also highlighted in this review. Future research should focus on data from low- and middle-income countries to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the problem. Policy interventions that adopt self-screening or different screening intervals can also be considered to reduce impacts in future crises. Insights from existing studies and future research will allow for more proactive measures to manage future disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Li
- Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, USA
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6
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Scanu AM, De Miglio MR. Therapeutic Landscapes in Colorectal Carcinoma. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:medicina59050821. [PMID: 37241053 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59050821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease of major public health and socioeconomic concern [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mario Scanu
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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7
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Pirozzi BM, Siragusa L, Baldini G, Pellicciaro M, Grande M, Efrati C, Finizio R, Formica V, Del Vecchio Blanco G, Sica GS. Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Colorectal Cancer Presentation, Management and Outcome during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041425. [PMID: 36835958 PMCID: PMC9962694 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures had an influence on colorectal cancer (CRC) presentation, management, and outcomes; it was a retrospective monocentric study. CRC patients undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic (1 March 2020-28 February 2022) (group B) were compared with patients operated on in the previous two years (1 March 2018-29 February 2020) in the same unit (group A). The primary outcome was to investigate whether there were differences in concern regarding the stage at presentation, as a whole and after dividing groups based on cancer location (right colon cancer, left colon cancer, rectal cancer). Secondary outcomes included differences in the number of patients admitted from emergency departments and emergency surgeries between periods, and differences in the postoperative outcomes. A subanalysis within the pandemic group was conducted on the same outcomes, dividing the aforementioned group based on pandemic trends. Two hundred and eighty (280) were operated on during the study period: 147 in group A and 133 in group B. Stage at presentation was similar between groups; however, the subgroups analysis showed that in the pandemic group, the number of early-stage left colon cancer occurrences almost halves, yet not significantly. Emergency department referral was more common in group B (p-value: 0.003); in group B, they also had longer operations and there was a more frequent use of ostomy. No differences in the number of postoperative complications nor in the postoperative outcomes were found. Patients with CRC were more frequently referred through the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic and left-sided cancers appear to be generally diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Postoperative outcomes showed that high specialized colorectal units can deliver standard high-level treatment under high-pressure external conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. M. Pirozzi
- Department of Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - L. Siragusa
- Department of Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - G. Baldini
- Department of Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - M. Pellicciaro
- Department of Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - M. Grande
- Department of Emergency, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - C. Efrati
- Department of Medicine, Israelitic Hospital of Rome, 00148 Rome, Italy
| | - R. Finizio
- Department of Medicine, Israelitic Hospital of Rome, 00148 Rome, Italy
| | - V. Formica
- Department of Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - G. S. Sica
- Department of Surgery, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
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8
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Arena L, Soloe C, Schlueter D, Ferriola-Bruckenstein K, DeGroff A, Tangka F, Hoover S, Melillo S, Subramanian S. Modifications in Primary Care Clinics to Continue Colorectal Cancer Screening Promotion During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Community Health 2023; 48:113-126. [PMID: 36308666 PMCID: PMC9617236 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01154-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 caused significant declines in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Health systems and clinics, faced with a new rapidly spreading infectious disease, adapted to maintain patient safety and address the effects of the pandemic on healthcare delivery. This study aimed to understand how CDC-funded Colorectal Cancer Control Program recipients and their partner health systems and clinics may have modified evidence-based intervention (EBI) implementation to promote CRC screening during the COVID-19 pandemic; to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing modifications; and to extract lessons that can be applied to support CRC screening, chronic disease management, and clinic resilience in the face of future public health crises. Nine recipients were selected to reflect the diversity inherent among all CRCCP recipients. Recipient and clinic partner staff answered unique sets of pre-interview questions to inform tailoring of interview guides that were developed using constructs from the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies (FRAME-IS) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The study team then interviewed recipient, health system, and clinic partner staff incorporating pre-interview responses to focus each conversation. We employed a rapid qualitative analysis approach then conducted virtual focus groups with recipient representatives to validate emergent themes. Three modifications that emerged from thematic analysis include: (1) offering mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits for CRC screening with mail or drop off return; (2) increasing the use of patient education and engagement strategies; and (3) increasing the use of or improving automated patient messaging systems. With improved tracking and automated reminder systems, mailed FIT kits paired with tailored patient education and clear instructions for completing the test could help primary care clinics catch up on the backlog of missed screenings during COVID-19. Future research can assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of offering mailed FIT kits on maintaining or improving CRC screening, especially among people who are medically underserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arena
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Cindy Soloe
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
| | - Dara Schlueter
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | | | - Amy DeGroff
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Florence Tangka
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Sonja Hoover
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
| | - Stephanie Melillo
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Sujha Subramanian
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
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Tarta C, Marian M, Capitanio M, Faur FI, Duta C, Diaconescu R, Oprescu-Macovei AM, Totolici B, Dobrescu A. The Challenges of Colorectal Cancer Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania: A Three-Year Retrospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:14320. [PMID: 36361200 PMCID: PMC9658781 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The predictions on the influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on access to medical services in Romania predicted a 35% drop in oncological hospitalizations in 2020 compared to the previous decade, raising the hypothesis that patients with colorectal cancer can become indirect victims of the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to observe how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced colorectal cancer surgery in Romania, to determine the level of addressability towards specialized care, to compare the cancer staging between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods, and to observe the risk factors for disease progression. This retrospective study was spread over three years, respectively, from March 2019 to March 2022, and included a total of 198 patients with a history of colorectal cancer surgery. It was decided to perform a parallel comparison of 2019, 2020, and 2021 to observe any significant changes during the pandemic. Our clinic encountered a significant decrease in all interventions during the pandemic; although the number of CRC surgeries remained constant, the cases were more difficult, with significantly more patients presenting in emergency situations, from 31.3% in 2019 to 50.0% in 2020 and 57.1% in 2021. Thus, the number of elective surgeries decreased significantly. The proportion of TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) staging was, however, statistically significant between the pre-pandemic and pandemic period. In 2019, 13.3% of patients had stage IIa, compared with 28.8% in 2020 and 13.1% in 2021. Similarly, the proportion of very advanced colorectal cancer was higher during the pandemic period of 2020 and 2021 (12.0% in 2019 vs. 12.5% in 2020 and 25.0% in 2021), which was represented by a significantly higher proportion of patients with bowel perforation. Patients with an advanced TNM stage had a 6.28-fold increased risk of disease progression, followed by lymphovascular invasion (HR = 5.19). However, the COVID-19 pandemic, represented by admission years 2020 and 2021, did not pose a significant risk for disease progression and mortality. In-hospital mortality during the pandemic also did not change significantly. After the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, it would be advisable to conduct a widespread colorectal cancer screening campaign in order to identify any instances of the disease that went undetected during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristi Tarta
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marco Marian
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marco Capitanio
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Flaviu Ionut Faur
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ciprian Duta
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Razvan Diaconescu
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
| | - Anca Monica Oprescu-Macovei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Agripa Ionescu”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Totolici
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
| | - Amadeus Dobrescu
- Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Domper-Arnal MJ, Hijos-Mallada G, Lanas Á. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the diagnosis and management of colorectal cancer patients. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2022; 15:17562848221117636. [PMID: 36035306 PMCID: PMC9403473 DOI: 10.1177/17562848221117636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, causing downscaling of almost all other activities, especially in its early stages. Currently, the availability of vaccines along with the spread of new viral variants has modified the epidemiology of the disease, and the previous activity is being gradually resumed in most healthcare facilities. In this review, we have summarized the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the diagnosis and management of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Population-based screening with either colonoscopy or fecal occult blood tests has proven to reduce CRC incidence and mortality, so screening programs have been implemented in most western countries. However, during the first COVID-19 wave, most of these programs had to be disrupted temporarily. In this review, we have thoroughly analyzed the consequences of these disruptions of screening programs as well as of the forced delays in diagnostic and therapeutic services on CRC prognosis, although its exact impact cannot be exactly measured yet. In any way, strategies to minimize its effect, such as catch-up strategies expanding the colonoscopy capacity or using fecal occult blood concentration and other risk factors to prioritize patients, are urgently needed. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a change in CRC patient presentation, with an overall temporary decreased incidence due to postponed diagnoses, but with more patients presenting in need of an emergency admission or with symptoms. Finally, changes in treatment approaches in CRC patients have been reported during the pandemic, namely a drop in the proportion of laparoscopic surgeries or a rise in short-term radiotherapy courses. We have therefore aimed to summarize the available evidence to guide the healthcare professionals treating CRC patients to choose the best treatment options in the current pandemic situation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ángel Lanas
- Service of Digestive Diseases, University
Clinic Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain,Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón),
Zaragoza, Spain,CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain,University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Fancellu A, Veneroni S, Santoru A, Meloni A, Sanna V, Ginesu GC, Deiana G, Paliogiannis P, Ninniri C, Perra T, Porcu A. How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the colorectal cancer screening in Italy: A minireview. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 14:1490-1498. [PMID: 36160740 PMCID: PMC9412930 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i8.1490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused detrimental effects on many aspects of healthcare practice. Screening programs for the commonest malignancies, namely colorectal cancer (CRC), breast cancer and cervical cancer have been discontinued or interrupted since the beginning of restriction measures aimed to limit transmission of the new coronavirus infection. Robust evidence exists in favour of the role of screening campaigns in reducing mortality from CRC. In fact, the majority of pre-malignant lesions of the colon and rectum can be diagnosed with colonoscopy and treated by endoscopic or surgical resection. Besides, colonoscopy screening allows the diagnosis of CRCs in their pre-clinical stage. Italy was one of the first European countries where a high level of COVID-19 infections and deaths was observed, and one of the first where lockdowns and strict measures were adopted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 diffusion among the population. A systematic review of the literature was performed, including the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Reference Citation Analysis databases, with the aim of critically evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CRC screening in Italy. We found that reduction of CRC screening activity surpassed 50% in most endoscopic units, with almost 600000 fewer CRC screening exams conducted in the first 5 mo of 2020 vs the same period of 2019. While the consequences of the discontinuation of endoscopy screening for the prognosis and mortality of CRC will be evident in the next few years, recent data confirm that CRC is currently treated at a more advanced stage than in the pre-COVID-19 era. Since delays in CRC prevention and early diagnosis may translate to increased CRC-specific mortality, world healthcare systems should adopt strategies to maintain the regularity of CRC screening during subsequent peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, or future events that might hamper screening programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Fancellu
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Simone Veneroni
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Antonio Santoru
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Arianna Meloni
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio C Ginesu
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Giulia Deiana
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Panagiotis Paliogiannis
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experimental Sciences. Unit of Pathology, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Chiara Ninniri
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Teresa Perra
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Alberto Porcu
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experiemental Sciences, Unit of General Surgery 2-Clinica Chirurgica, University of Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
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Serban D, Vancea G, Smarandache CG, Balasescu SA, Gangura GA, Costea DO, Tudosie MS, Tudor C, Dumitrescu D, Dascalu AM, Tanasescu C, Tribus LC. New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Applied Sciences 2022; 12:5337. [DOI: 10.3390/app12115337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put a great burden on national healthcare systems, causing delays and disruptions in the medical care of non-COVID-19 patients. This paper aims to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact upon the quality of care in colorectal surgery. (2) Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on the colorectal cancer cases operated in the Fourth Department of General Surgery, Emergency Hospital Bucharest Romania, over the period March 2020–February 2021 (pandemic group) vs. March 2019–February 2020 (non-pandemic group). (3) Results: The number of patients in the pandemic group decreased by 70% (36 vs. 118 patients), with lower accessibility from rural areas (11.1% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.035). Most cases in the pandemic group were emergencies (69% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.009), admitted for bowel obstruction (63.8% vs. 27.9%, p = 0.008). There was no in-hospital COVID-19 infection in patients operated for colorectal cancer. The 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the pandemic group (25% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.017), mostly due to septic shock (36.1% vs. 5%, p = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Colorectal cancer surgery may be performed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict adherence to the SARS-CoV-2 prevention protocols. However, the significant increase in colorectal cancers in the emergency was associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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