Colorectal cancer diagnoses dropped over 40% during COVID-19 pandemic, new study shows
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
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