Differences in Radiotherapy-Treated Members with Cancer during COVID-19 Pandemic Using Nationwide Claim Data

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

This study aimed to identify the impact of the pandemic on radiotherapy activity among members with cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This retrospective study included fully-insured commercial members of a large national payor with cancer aged ≥18 years undergoing radiotherapy from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2022. Radiotherapy activity was defined as the mean weekly number of treatment courses and attendances (fractions) per month pre-COVID (March 2018 to February 2020); during COVID (March 2020 to February 2021); and post-COVID (March 2021 to February 2022). T-tests assessed differences between pre-COVID and post-COVID on radiotherapy activity by age, gender, and cancer type. Interrupted time series analysis (ITS) assessed change in activity overtime, controlling for pre-COVID trends and other potential confounders. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The study included 9,275 members, 10,121 courses, and 169,257 fractions; most members were female (57%), the mean age was 57 years (SD = 12). Overall, there was a decline in mean weekly number of courses from the pre-COVID to post-COVID (-18%, p<0.05) timeframe. Females < 70 years experienced the largest decline in mean weekly number of courses (-23%, p<0.05) followed by males aged 70+ (-16%, p<0.05) and males < 70 years (-16%, p<0.05). All cancer types saw a significant decline (p<0.05); breast cancer reported the largest decline (-21%, p<0.05). Fraction numbers significantly declined overall by 27% (p<0.05) from the pre-COVID to post-COVID timeframe. The largest decline in fraction numbers was observed in females < 70 (-28%, p<0.05) followed by males < 70 years (-24%, p<0.05) and males aged 70+ (-22%, p<0.05). No difference between COVID and pre-COVID weeks for courses was observed once pre-COVID trends were accounted for using ITS. Females aged 70+ received 25% (p<0.05) fewer fractions during COVID compared to pre-COVID; a decline which continued to grow even as the pandemic eased (March 2021 to February 2022). Males aged 70+ also experienced a decreased level of fractions during the pandemic (-30%, p<0.05), but increased in the recovery period (+24%, p<0.05). Males < 70 years had an increased level of fractions during the pandemic (+14%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Radiation mean weekly number of courses and fractions between pre-COVID and post-COVID declined with the effect more pronounced in females < 70 years. A decrease in fraction number was observed in all cancer types; specifically, breast cancer had the largest decline. ITS analysis revealed no difference between COVID and pre-COVID weeks for courses as the downward trend was already present prior to the pandemic. These findings suggest while radiotherapy courses and fractions were significantly impacted, fractionation was decreased to a greater extent, indicating an increased adoption of hypofractionation during the pandemic.

A complex bilateral polysyndactyly disease locus maps to chromosome 7q36

We demonstrated that the gene responsible for a congenital limb deformity (polysyndactyly) maps to chromosome 7q36 in a large family. Pre- and postaxial anomalies of the extremities are inherited in this family as an autosomal dominant trait. The disease locus is closely linked to D7S550 (maximum lod score = 6.85, theta = 0). This region is homologous to a segment of mouse chromosome 5, where the mutations hammer toe (HM) and hemimelic extra toes (HX) have been mapped. These data suggest that human chromosome 7q36 and the homologous region of mouse chromosome 5 contain genes involved in limb pattern formation.