The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis and service access in New Zealand-a country pursuing COVID-19 elimination.
COVID
COVID-19
Cancer
Cancer registration
Cancer services
Cancer treatment
Coronavirus
Journal
The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific
ISSN: 2666-6065
Titre abrégé: Lancet Reg Health West Pac
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101774968
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
May 2021
May 2021
Historique:
received:
10
01
2021
revised:
24
02
2021
accepted:
25
02
2021
entrez:
29
3
2021
pubmed:
30
3
2021
medline:
30
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer services globally. New Zealand has pursued an elimination strategy to COVID-19, reducing (but not eliminating) this disruption. Early in the pandemic, our national Cancer Control Agency ( Data were sourced (2018-2020) from national collections, including cancer registrations, inpatient hospitalisations and outpatient events. Cancer registrations, diagnostic testing (gastrointestinal endoscopy), surgery (colorectal, lung and prostate surgeries), medical oncology access (first specialist appointments [FSAs] and intravenous chemotherapy attendances) and radiation oncology access (FSAs and megavoltage attendances) were extracted. Descriptive analyses of count data were performed, stratified by ethnicity (Indigenous Māori, Pacific Island, non-Māori/non-Pacific). Compared to 2018-2019, there was a 40% decline in cancer registrations during New Zealand's national shutdown in March-April 2020, increasing back to pre-shutdown levels over subsequent months. While there was a sharp decline in endoscopies, pre-shutdown volumes were achieved again by August. The impact on cancer surgery and medical oncology has been minimal, but there has been an 8% year-to-date decrease in radiation therapy attendances. With the exception of lung cancer, there is no evidence that existing inequities in service access between ethnic groups have been exacerbated by COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on cancer care in New Zealand has been largely mitigated. The New Zealand experience may provide other agencies or organisations with a sense of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer services within a country that has actively pursued elimination of COVID-19. Data were provided by New Zealand's Ministry of Health, and analyses completed by Te Aho o Te Kahu staff.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted cancer services globally. New Zealand has pursued an elimination strategy to COVID-19, reducing (but not eliminating) this disruption. Early in the pandemic, our national Cancer Control Agency (
METHODS
METHODS
Data were sourced (2018-2020) from national collections, including cancer registrations, inpatient hospitalisations and outpatient events. Cancer registrations, diagnostic testing (gastrointestinal endoscopy), surgery (colorectal, lung and prostate surgeries), medical oncology access (first specialist appointments [FSAs] and intravenous chemotherapy attendances) and radiation oncology access (FSAs and megavoltage attendances) were extracted. Descriptive analyses of count data were performed, stratified by ethnicity (Indigenous Māori, Pacific Island, non-Māori/non-Pacific).
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Compared to 2018-2019, there was a 40% decline in cancer registrations during New Zealand's national shutdown in March-April 2020, increasing back to pre-shutdown levels over subsequent months. While there was a sharp decline in endoscopies, pre-shutdown volumes were achieved again by August. The impact on cancer surgery and medical oncology has been minimal, but there has been an 8% year-to-date decrease in radiation therapy attendances. With the exception of lung cancer, there is no evidence that existing inequities in service access between ethnic groups have been exacerbated by COVID-19.
INTERPRETATION
CONCLUSIONS
The impact of COVID-19 on cancer care in New Zealand has been largely mitigated. The New Zealand experience may provide other agencies or organisations with a sense of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer services within a country that has actively pursued elimination of COVID-19.
FUNDING
BACKGROUND
Data were provided by New Zealand's Ministry of Health, and analyses completed by Te Aho o Te Kahu staff.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33778794
doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100127
pii: S2666-6065(21)00036-5
pmc: PMC7983868
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
100127Informations de copyright
© 2021 The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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