COVID-19 Negatively Affected Most Aspects of Cancer Care

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The study covered in this summary was published on medrxiv.org as a preprint and has not yet been peer reviewed.

Key Takeaway

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on cancer treatments, screenings, and diagnoses as well as patients’ psychosocial well-being, including an increase in symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Why This Matter

Throughout the pandemic, studies have identified disruptions in cancer screenings, treatment, and diagnoses as well as effects on the psychological well-being of patients. These studies have covered a range of periods and outcomes.
In the current study, researchers performed a systematic literature review to assess the evidence as a whole and to provide a broader look at how the pandemic disrupted different aspects of cancer care.

Study Design

Researchers performed an umbrella review of 45 systematic reviews of studies published before November 29, 2022, that evaluated different aspects of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AMSTAR-2 was used to appraise the methodologic rigor of the reviews included in the analysis.

Key Results

Overall, 45 systematic reviews were included in the analysis.
Of these, 13 reviews reported treatment delays and cancellations of cancer treatment, which were most notable during lockdowns. One study found that treatment shortages, delays, and interruptions were generally more common in low- or middle-income countries.
Eleven reviews reported on cancer screening. Overall, reviews showed a decline in screening rates across all cancer types. The most pronounced decline (~51%) was in regard to cervical cancer screening, though colorectal (~43%) and breast cancer (~44%) screening rates also declined.
Eleven reviews reported changes in cancer treatment, specifically, the downscaling of treatment plans. One study, for instance, reported changes in treatment plans in almost two thirds of centers.
A dozen studies reported that the pandemic negatively affected cancer survivors’ and patients’ psychosocial well-being. PTSD symptoms increased by approximately 27%, depression by around 37%, and the fear of cancer progression by about 68%.
Reviews consistently reported decreased diagnoses of new cancer cases during the pandemic. Countries that implemented lockdowns showed the highest reduction in new cancer diagnoses.

Limitations

Authors only searched one database, PubMed, potentially missing other relevant studies.
Some results were derived from a single study or studies with small sample sizes and a limited number of events.
Many of the systematic reviews did not have prepandemic controls.
There was some overlap in evidence among the systematic reviews.

Disclosures

No funding was provided for the study.
The authors did not disclose any conflicts of interest.

This is a summary of a preprint research study, “Changes in Cancer Prevention and Management and Patient Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews.” The study has not been peer reviewed. The full text can be found at medrxiv.org.

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