PR92074

VIENNA, Oct.4, 2021/PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

The number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases diagnosed fell dramatically by 40%

in a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research presented today at UEG

Week Virtual 2021 has shown.

The research, which was conducted across multiple hospitals in Spain, compared

data from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic with data from the previous

year. Of 1,385 cases of CRC diagnosed over the two-year period, almost two

thirds (868 cases, 62.7%) were diagnosed in the pre-pandemic year from 24,860

colonoscopies. By contrast, only 517 cases (37.3%) were diagnosed during the

pandemic, which also saw a 27% drop in the number of colonoscopies performed,

to 17,337.

Those who were diagnosed with CRC between 15 March 2020 and 28 February 2021

were also older than in the pre-pandemic year, had more frequent symptoms, a

greater number of complications and presented at a more advanced disease stage.

Experts say the fall is a consequence of the suspension of screening programmes

and the postponement of non-urgent colonoscopy investigations during the

pandemic. Fewer cancers were identified by CRC screening in the pandemic

period, with just 22 (4.3%) cases found in comparison to 182 (21%) in the

pre-pandemic year. During the pandemic, more patients were diagnosed through

symptoms (81.2% of diagnoses) compared with the pre-pandemic year (69%).

Dr María Jose Domper Arnal, from the Service of Digestive Diseases, University

Clinic Hospital and the Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragon) in

Zaragoza, Spain, and lead author of the study, commented "These are very

worrying findings indeed – cases of colorectal cancer undoubtedly went

undiagnosed during the pandemic. Not only were there fewer diagnoses, but those

diagnosed tended to be at a later stage and suffering from more serious

symptoms."

There was a significant increase in the number of patients being diagnosed with

serious complications – a sign of late-stage disease – with an increase in

symptoms such as bowel perforation, abscesses, bowel obstruction and bleeding

requiring hospital admission.

"Colorectal cancer is often curable if it's caught at an early stage. Our

concern is that we're losing the opportunity to diagnose patients at this early

stage, and this will have a knock-on effect on patient outcomes and survival.

We are likely to see this fall out for years to come."

For further information, references or to request an expert interview, contact

media@ueg.eu

Source: UEG Week