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Balan L, Secosan C, Sorop VB, Pirtea M, Cimpean AM, Chiriac D, Balan C, Borsi E, Iorga A, Pirtea L. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Precursor Lesions-A Single-Center Retrospective Study. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:909. [PMID: 38929526 PMCID: PMC11206154 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Our aim was to perform a retrospective analysis of the volume of cervical screening tests, the number of patients treated with an excision method, and the incidence of invasive and non-invasive cervical during a pandemic and pre-pandemic period of 24 months. Materials and Methods: The study compared 404 patients who underwent cervical cone biopsy for cervical cancer. The study examined patients' specimens based on histopathological characteristics and categorized cervical lesions based on pap smear. Results: There was a statistically significant age difference between the two study periods. The mean difference was 32 years before the pandemic and 35 years during the pandemic (p-value > 0.05). The biggest patient loss ratio identified by age group was in the 50-59-year group, with a 14.53% loss in the pre-pandemic period and a 9.1% loss in the pandemic period. In the pandemic period, patients from rural areas presented in the clinical trial with a lower rate of 39.52% (83 patients) vs. 60.47% (127 patients) in urban areas. A higher percentage of patients experiencing cervicorrhagia as a clinical manifestation in the pandemic period vs. the pre-pandemic period, with an increase in more severe lesions in the pandemic period, had a statistical significance of 8% more newly diagnosed compared to the pre-pandemic period. Conclusions: The addressability of the patients during the COVID period was not affected in a drastic way in our study. We encountered a decrease in appointments in the age group of 50-59 years and a decrease in patients with rural residence. In our study, we found an increase in cervical bleeding as a reason for consultation in the pandemic period with a higher lesion degree, both on a pap smear and on a cervical biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Balan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Cristina Secosan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Virgiliu-Bogdan Sorop
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Marilena Pirtea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Anca Maria Cimpean
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Daniela Chiriac
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Catalin Balan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ema Borsi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Discipline of Hematology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ariana Iorga
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology “Dr. Victor Babes”, 300310 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Laurentiu Pirtea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.B.); (V.-B.S.); (M.P.); (D.C.); (L.P.)
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Wang H, Yang M, Xiong W, Wang Q, Zheng B, Bai Y, Zou K, Li J, Ren J, Chen W, Zhai J, Li J. Noteworthy impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer screening: A systematic review. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 4:484-494. [PMID: 38933198 PMCID: PMC11197616 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.12.016] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The sudden onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020 has affected essential global health services. Cancer-screening services that can reduce cancer mortality are strongly affected. However, the specific role of COVID-19 in cancer screening is not fully understood. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of global cancer screening programs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote potential cancer-screening strategies for the next pandemic. Electronic searches in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, and manual searches were performed between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2023. Cohort studies that reported the number of participants who underwent cancer screening before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Differences in cancer-screening rates were estimated using the incidence rate ratio (IRR). Fifty-five cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. The screening rates of colorectal cancer using invasive screening methods (Pooled IRR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.65, p < 0.01), cervical cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.67, p < 0.01), breast cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.66, p < 0.01) and prostate cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56 to 0.90, p < 0.01) during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly lower than those before the COVID-19 pandemic. The screening rates of lung cancer (Pooled IRR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.03, p = 0.08) and colorectal cancer using noninvasive screening methods (Pooled IRR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.50 to 1.09, p = 0.13) were reduced with no statistical differences. The subgroup analyses revealed that the reduction in cancer-screening rates varied across economies. Our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a noteworthy impact on colorectal, cervical, breast, and prostate cancer screening. Developing innovative cancer-screening technologies is important to promote the efficiency of cancer-screening services in the post-COVID-19 era and prepare for the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Wang
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Min Yang
- Department of Comprehensive Intervention, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Gynecology Endocrine & Reproductive Center, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Quan Wang
- Ambulatory Surgery Center of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Bobo Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People’ s Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China
| | - Yang Bai
- College of Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Kaiyong Zou
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jibin Li
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jiansong Ren
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wanqing Chen
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jingbo Zhai
- School of Public Health, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Jiang Li
- Office for Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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Braicu V, Fulger L, Nelluri A, Maganti RK, Shetty USA, Verdes G, Brebu D, Dumitru C, Toma AO, Rosca O, Duta C. Three-Year Analysis of the Rectal Cancer Care Trajectory after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Diseases 2023; 11:181. [PMID: 38131987 PMCID: PMC10742543 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11040181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The global pandemic period from 2020 to 2022 caused important alterations in oncology care. This study aimed to describe the trends and variations in patient characteristics, comorbidities, and treatment approaches during this time in Romania. We conducted a retrospective database search to identify patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgical intervention between 2020 and 2022 and the year 2019, which served as a pre-pandemic period control. This study included 164 patients, with a yearly increase of approximately 10% in surgical interventions noted from 2020 (1709 interventions) to 2022 (2118 interventions), but an overall 34.4% decrease compared with the pre-pandemic period. Notable shifts were observed in the type of surgeries performed, with laparoscopic procedures doubling from 2020 (25%) to 2022 (47.5%), confirming the decrease in emergency presentations during the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic and a recovery to normality with planned, elective interventions. Elective interventions increased significantly in 2022 (79.7%) compared with the previous years (p = 0.043), with a concurrent rise in neoadjuvant therapy uptake in 2022 (35.6%). However, significant alterations in the TNM staging, from 12.5% stage IV cases in 2020 to 25.4% in 2022 (p = 0.039), indicated an increased diagnosis of advanced stages of rectal cancer as the years progressed. There was a significant difference in albumin levels over the years (p = 0.019) and in the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores (from 6.2% ASA stage IV in 2020 to 16.9% in 2022), denoting an increase in case complexity (p = 0.043). This study reveals a trend of increasing surgical interventions and the prevalence of more advanced stages of rectal cancer during the pandemic years. Despite the subtle fluctuations in various patient characteristics and treatment approaches, notable shifts were documented in the severity at diagnosis and surgery types, pointing toward more advanced disease presentations and changes in surgical strategies over the period studied. Nevertheless, the trends in ICU admission rates and mortality did not alter significantly during the pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Braicu
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (C.D.)
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.F.); (G.V.); (D.B.)
| | - Lazar Fulger
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.F.); (G.V.); (D.B.)
| | - Aditya Nelluri
- School of General Medicine, Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumakuru 572107, India;
| | - Ram Kiran Maganti
- School of General Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar 563101, India;
| | | | - Gabriel Verdes
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.F.); (G.V.); (D.B.)
| | - Dan Brebu
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.F.); (G.V.); (D.B.)
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ana-Olivia Toma
- Department of Dermatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu Rosca
- Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ciprian Duta
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (C.D.)
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.F.); (G.V.); (D.B.)
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Pescaru CC, Crisan AF, Marc M, Trusculescu AA, Maritescu A, Pescaru A, Sumenkova A, Bratosin F, Oancea C, Vastag E. A Systematic Review of Telemedicine-Driven Pulmonary Rehabilitation after the Acute Phase of COVID-19. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4854. [PMID: 37510969 PMCID: PMC10381369 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The acute phase of COVID-19 often leaves patients with persistent pulmonary deficits. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) has been recommended as an essential part of post-acute COVID-19 management. In light of the global pandemic, telerehabilitation has been increasingly employed to deliver PR. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine-driven PR in patients recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19, assessing variations in telerehabilitation practices and identifying the degree of change in mental health, physical health, quality of life, and lung function. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus up until April 2023. Studies focusing on telerehabilitation in PR for post-acute COVID-19 patients with outcomes including pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life were included after careful assessment of this study's protocol. The selection process involved careful scrutiny of abstracts and full texts, and the quality assessment was performed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) tool. Seven studies, published between 2021 and 2022, involving a total of 412 patients, were included. The evaluated telerehabilitation programs stretched between 4 and 10 weeks, involving a mobile app or video connection with the patient, integrating a mix of aerobic and resistance training, breathing exercises, functional activities, and muscle strengthening. Findings revealed that telemedicine-driven PR significantly improved physical health, measured by the step test score (73 vs. 71), 6MWD (30.2 vs. 17.1) and BPAQ, mental health evaluated by SF-12 (6.15 vs. 4.17) and PHQ-4, quality of life measured by the SF-12 (7.81 vs. 3.84), SGRQ (31.5 vs. 16.9), and CAT scores, and some parameters of pulmonary function in post-acute COVID-19 patients (mMRC, STST, and MVV). This review substantiates the potential of telemedicine-driven PR to improve various health outcomes in post-acute COVID-19 patients. The findings underscore the importance of integrating telerehabilitation into the management of post-acute COVID-19 and call for further exploration of its long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Corina Pescaru
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexandru Florian Crisan
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for the Assessment of Human Motion, Functionality and Disability (CEMFD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Monica Marc
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ana Adriana Trusculescu
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Maritescu
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei Pescaru
- Faculty of General Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Anastasiia Sumenkova
- Penza State University, Faculty of Medicine, Ulitsa Krasnaya 40, 440026 Penza, Russia
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Emanuela Vastag
- Center for Research and Innovation in Personalized Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Pulmonology Clinic, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology, "Victor Babes", Gheorghe Adam Street 13, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
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El-Tawab SS, Fox J, Trent S, Kehoe S. Cervical cancer during the covid pandemic: Are patients presenting with more advanced or larger tumours? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2023; 283:95-99. [PMID: 36822124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.02.006] [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: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Concerns were raised by clinicians at the Oxford Gynaecological Cancer MDT that there was an increasing number of women presenting with large cervical tumours requiring chemo-radiotherapy, possibly due to delays associated with the COVID pandemic. This audit was undertaken to assess whether this was a real event. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective cohort study collated the data from the central pathology service covering Oxfordshire, in the Oxford Gynaecological cancer centre. The control population consisted of patients treated during the 2 years pre-pandemic (1st Jan 2018-31 Dec 2019) and the study group the 2-year pandemic period (1st Jan 2020 until 31st December 2021). A total of 153 patients (74 control and 79 study) were diagnosed of cervical cancer during the study period. Variables included in the analysis were age, pathway of referral and diagnosis (cytology or clinical), FIGO stage, tumour histology, tumour size (using maximum diameter on MRI) and treatment. Student's t-test was used for continuous and discrete variables, respectively. The X2 test was used for the statistical analysis of proportions. RESULTS There was no statistically significant differences was noted in the referral pathways during both periods. Statistically significant stage migration from FIGO stage II to III was detected (p < 0.05), though no statistically significant change in tumour size. However, the pattern of tumour volume on case-to-case comparison elicited more cases with larger volumes during the pandemic periods. CONCLUSIONS Referral pathways of diagnosed cancer cervix was not affected during the pandemic in Oxfordshire. Therapeutic treatment numbers were unchanged - but some changes in tumour volume were likely the reason for the impression more such cases. Whether the stage shift noted here is representative of the wider population requires further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally S El-Tawab
- Oxford Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DL, United Kingdom; Elshatby Maternity University Hospital, Gynaecology Oncology Center, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Julia Fox
- Consultant Biomedical Scientist, Cellular Pathology Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
| | - Sally Trent
- Clinical Oncology Department, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DL, United Kingdom.
| | - Sean Kehoe
- Oxford Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DL, United Kingdom; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, The Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9 DU, United Kingdom.
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A Retrospective Analysis of the Challenges of Urothelial Cancer Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Single Academic Center in Romania. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11060812. [PMID: 36981469 PMCID: PMC10048588 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the healthcare sector due to adaptations required to hospitalize and treat an impressive number of patients. This retrospective study intended to collect reliable information on urothelial cancer patients in Romania. The primary objective was to compare the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods to observe the differences that occurred in the management of patients with urothelial carcinoma. The secondary objective was to determine the risk factors for urothelial cancer progression in the study cohort correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic. All patients that were diagnosed and treated at our clinic with a diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) during 2019–2021 were included in the current study. A total of 1122 eligible unique cases were identified during the study period. The number of patients who underwent intervention in the pre-pandemic year was 421, followed by a 22.6% decrease in 2020 to 326 cases and a 13.1% increase in 2021 to 375 cases. The proportion of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) cases was significantly higher during the pandemic years, from 30.5% MIBC cases in 2019 to 37.4% in 2020 and 39.4% in 2021, suggesting a delay in presentations during the pandemic. Stage III and IV (TNM) cases were significantly more frequent, even though approximately 40% of all patients were operated on in stage I. The number of cystectomies increased significantly, from 5.2% in 2019 and 4.3% in 2020 to 10.1% in 2021, while the number of elective surgeries decreased, although no significant difference was observed regarding the in-hospital mortality and disease progression at six months. Patients with stage III and IV at presentation had the highest likelihood of disease progression at six months (HR = 5.61). Distant invasion was the second highest risk factor (HR = 5.13), followed by MIBC type (HR = 2.49). Nevertheless, the duration of hospitalization and year of diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic were not significant risk factors for cancer progression at six months. It can be concluded that there was a significant delay in patient presentations in 2020, and we advocate for increased public health awareness for urothelial cancer and increased attention toward the screening and management of these patients in the following years.
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Evaluation of FIB-4, NFS, APRI and Liver Function Tests as Predictors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Elderly Population: A Matched Case-Control Analysis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11175149. [PMID: 36079087 PMCID: PMC9457203 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11175149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several investigations have revealed that COVID-19 causes a significant death rate due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, alterations in the quantity of ACE2 receptor expression, or the intensity of cytokine storm. Similarly, patients with hepatic impairment that are co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to display upregulations of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overload, which exacerbates hepatic impairment, potentially increasing the death rate. Moreover, it is expected that the aging population develops a higher degree of hepatic fibrosis in association with other comorbid conditions that are likely to influence the course of COVID-19. Therefore, this research was developed to describe the differences in liver test parameters in elderly individuals with COVID-19 in relation to other inflammatory markers and outcomes. This current observational single-center research followed a case-control design of elderly patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research was conducted at a tertiary emergency hospital in western Romania during a two-year period. There were 632 patients included in the analysis that were split into two equal groups matched 1:1 based on gender and body mass index. Three hundred sixteen patients made the group of cases with COVID-19 patients older than 65 years, while the other half were the 316 patient controls with COVID-19 that were younger than 65 years old. Disease outcomes showed a higher prevalence of ICU admissions (22.8% vs. 12.7%, p-value < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (17.1% vs. 8.9%, p-value = 0.002) in the group of cases. Specific and non-specific liver biomarkers were identified as risk factors for mortality in the elderly, such as ALP (OR = 1.26), LDH (OR = 1.68), AST (OR = 1.98), and ALT (OR = 2.34). Similarly, patients with APRI and NFS scores higher than 1.5 were, respectively, 2.69 times and, 3.05 times more likely to die from COVID-19, and patients with FIB-4 scores higher than 3.25 were 3.13 times more likely to die during hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our research indicates that abnormally increased liver biomarkers and high liver fibrosis scores are related to a worse prognosis in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
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The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients with Malignant Melanoma at a Romanian Academic Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148499. [PMID: 35886351 PMCID: PMC9317187 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Considering cancer patients may be at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, their oncologic treatment cannot be delayed without risking their oncologic outcomes. Considering this, a comprehensive evaluation is required for the management of malignant diseases such as melanoma. The current study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of cancer care services for patients diagnosed with malignant melanoma in Romania; to document the difference in patients’ addressability and melanoma staging between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods; as well as to determine the risk factors responsible for disease progression during the pandemic. We developed a retrospective analysis using a monocentric hospital database to compare the final 24 months of the pre-pandemic era to the first 24 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. All outpatients and inpatients with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma were screened during the study period and included in the analysis if matching the inclusion criteria. A total of 301 patients were included in the study, with 163 cases identified in the 24 months before the COVID-19 pandemic and 138 patients during the first 24 months of the pandemic. It was observed during the first two lockdown periods from March to May 2020, and, respectively, from October to December 2020, that significantly fewer patients with malignant melanoma presented for specialized medical care, while there was a statistically significantly lower proportion of outpatients due to COVID-19 restrictions (18.1% vs. 42.9%). The average Breslow depth was 1.1 mm before the pandemic, compared with 1.8 mm during the pandemic (p-value < 0.001). Third-stage patients were the most prevalent during both study periods, although with a statistically significant difference during the pandemic, with an increase from 90 (55.2%) patients to 94 (68.1%) (p-value < 0.001). The significant risk factors for disease progression were advanced AJCC stage (HR = 3.48), high Breslow index (HR = 3.19), postponed treatment (HR = 2.46), missed appointments (HR = 2.31), anemia at presentation (HR = 1.60), and patient’s age (HR = 1.57). After the pandemic limitations are brought to an end, a broad skin-cancer-screening campaign is warranted to detect the missed cases during COVID-19.
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Popescu A, Pantea S, Radu D, Gluhovschi A, Dumitru C, Dahma G, Mocanu AG, Neamtu R, Dema S, Tigmeanu CV, Grigoras ML, Pescariu SA, Aabed H, Craina M. The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cervical Cancer at a Romanian Academic Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061488. [PMID: 35741299 PMCID: PMC9222190 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061488] [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: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems worldwide adapted to support COVID-19 patients while continuing to provide assistance to patients with other potentially fatal illnesses. While patients with cancer may be at an elevated risk of severe COVID-19-related complications, their oncologic therapies generally cannot be postponed indefinitely without a negative effect on outcomes. Taking this into account, a thorough examination of the therapy management of various cancers is necessary, such as cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to develop a retrospective cohort study to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of cancer care services for women diagnosed with cervical cancer staged IB2-IVA, necessitating chemo- and radiotherapy in Romania, as well as determine the difference in cervical cancer staging between the pandemic and pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Using a multicentric hospital database, we designed a retrospective study to compare the last 24 months of the pre-pandemic period to the first 24 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to evaluate the variation in the proportion of women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the percentage of inoperable cases requiring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as to detail their clinical presentation and other findings. Results: We observed that the likelihood of cervical cancer patients requiring radiation therapy at a later stage than before the pandemic increased by about 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients at an advanced FIGO stage of cervical cancer had a 3.39 higher likelihood of disease progression after radiotherapy (CI [2.06−4.21], p-value < 0.001), followed by tumor size at diagnosis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.12 (CI [2.24−4.00], p-value < 0.001). The factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed treatment and missed appointments, were also identified as significant risk factors for cervical cancer progression (HR = 2.51 and HR = 2.24, respectively). Conclusions We predict that there will be a considerable rise in cervical cancer cases over the next several years based on existing data and that expanding screening and treatment capacity will attenuate this with a minimal increase in morbidity and fatality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alin Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Stelian Pantea
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Daniela Radu
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Adrian Gluhovschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - George Dahma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Adelina Geanina Mocanu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Radu Neamtu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Sorin Dema
- Discipline of Radiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Codruta Victoria Tigmeanu
- Department of Technology of Materials and Devices in Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Silvius Alexandru Pescariu
- Department VI, Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Hazzaa Aabed
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Marius Craina
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
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