TY - JOUR
T1 - Population-based impact of COVID-19 on incidence, treatment, and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer
AU - Graus, Merlijn U. J. E.
AU - de Hingh, Ignace H. J. T.
AU - Besselink, Marc G.
AU - Bruno, Marco J.
AU - Wilmink, Johanna W.
AU - de Meijer, Vincent E.
AU - van Velthuysen, Marie-Louise F.
AU - Valkenburg-van Iersel, Liselot B. J.
AU - van der Geest, Lydia G. M.
AU - de Vos-Geelen, Judith
AU - Siesling, S.
AU - van Hoeve, J. C.
AU - Merkx, M. A. W.
AU - de Wit, N. J.
AU - Helsper, C. W.
AU - Dingemans, I.
AU - Nagtegaal, I. D.
AU - van der Schaaf, M.
AU - Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Group (DPCG) and the COVID & Cancer-NL consortium
AU - van Gils, C. H.
AU - Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank (Pathologisch-Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatiseerd Archief, PALGA)
AU - van Weert, H. C. P. M.
AU - SONCOS (Dutch Multidisciplinary Oncology Foundation)
AU - Verheij, M.
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development ZonMw (project number: 10430022010014 ). The funding source had no role in the analyses and writing of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put substantial strain on the healthcare system of which the effects are only partly elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the impact on pancreatic cancer care. Methods: All patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 2017 and 2020 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients diagnosed and/or treated in 2020 were compared to 2017–2019. Monthly incidence was calculated. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were analyzed and compared using Chi-squared tests. Survival data was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and Log-rank tests. Results: In total, 11019 patients were assessed. The incidence in quarter (Q)2 of 2020 was comparable with that in Q2 of 2017–2019 (p = 0.804). However, the incidence increased in Q4 of 2020 (p = 0.031), mainly due to a higher incidence of metastatic disease (p = 0.010). Baseline characteristics, surgical resection (15% vs 16%; p = 0.466) and palliative systemic therapy rates (23% vs 24%; p = 0.183) were comparable. In 2020, more surgically treated patients received (neo)adjuvant treatment compared to 2017–2019 (73% vs 67%; p = 0.041). Median overall survival was comparable (3.8 vs 3.8 months; p = 0.065). Conclusion: This nationwide study found a minor impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pancreatic cancer care and outcome. The Dutch health care system was apparently able to maintain essential care for patients with pancreatic cancer.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has put substantial strain on the healthcare system of which the effects are only partly elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the impact on pancreatic cancer care. Methods: All patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 2017 and 2020 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients diagnosed and/or treated in 2020 were compared to 2017–2019. Monthly incidence was calculated. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were analyzed and compared using Chi-squared tests. Survival data was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and Log-rank tests. Results: In total, 11019 patients were assessed. The incidence in quarter (Q)2 of 2020 was comparable with that in Q2 of 2017–2019 (p = 0.804). However, the incidence increased in Q4 of 2020 (p = 0.031), mainly due to a higher incidence of metastatic disease (p = 0.010). Baseline characteristics, surgical resection (15% vs 16%; p = 0.466) and palliative systemic therapy rates (23% vs 24%; p = 0.183) were comparable. In 2020, more surgically treated patients received (neo)adjuvant treatment compared to 2017–2019 (73% vs 67%; p = 0.041). Median overall survival was comparable (3.8 vs 3.8 months; p = 0.065). Conclusion: This nationwide study found a minor impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pancreatic cancer care and outcome. The Dutch health care system was apparently able to maintain essential care for patients with pancreatic cancer.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160246220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpb.2023.04.017
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpb.2023.04.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 37236831
SN - 1365-182X
VL - 25
SP - 1195
EP - 1202
JO - HPB
JF - HPB
IS - 10
ER -