Peter Reichardt1, Andreas Bollmann2, Sven Hohenstein2, Bertram Glass3, Michael Untch3, Annette Reichardt4, Daniel Amrein3, Ralf Kuhlen5. 1. Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany, peter.reichardt@helios-gesundheit.de. 2. Heart Center Leipzig and Leipzig Heart Institute, Leipzig, Germany. 3. Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany. 4. Berlin Cancer Institute, Berlin, Germany. 5. Helios Health, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic lead to a massive shutdown of social life in Germany starting in March 2020. Elective medical treatment was substantially reduced but urgent diagnostics and treatment including cancer care should not have been affected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the number of oncology admissions to 75 German Helios hospitals during 2 time periods in 2020 and compared the data with the respective periods in 2019. The study included nearly 69,000 admissions in total. RESULTS: A highly significant reduction in overall cancer admissions was seen for the early lockdown period from 13 March to 28 April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. After an official communication advising the health system to return to normal practice on 29 April 2020, we again found a highly significant difference in admissions compared to the respective time in the previous year. Subgroup analysis shows a significant impact of age >75 years, high hospital volume, and intermediate or high COVID-19 case volume in the federal states. Gender had no impact on admission numbers. The effects and significance levels were comparable in nearly all different diagnostic subgroups according to the ICD codes. CONCLUSIONS: For cancer diagnosis and treatment, we found a statistically significant decrease in hospital admissions in the range of 10-20% for both study periods in comparison to the previous year.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic lead to a massive shutdown of social life in Germany starting in March 2020. Elective medical treatment was substantially reduced but urgent diagnostics and treatment including cancer care should not have been affected. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the number of oncology admissions to 75 German Helios hospitals during 2 time periods in 2020 and compared the data with the respective periods in 2019. The study included nearly 69,000 admissions in total. RESULTS: A highly significant reduction in overall cancer admissions was seen for the early lockdown period from 13 March to 28 April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. After an official communication advising the health system to return to normal practice on 29 April 2020, we again found a highly significant difference in admissions compared to the respective time in the previous year. Subgroup analysis shows a significant impact of age >75 years, high hospital volume, and intermediate or high COVID-19 case volume in the federal states. Gender had no impact on admission numbers. The effects and significance levels were comparable in nearly all different diagnostic subgroups according to the ICD codes. CONCLUSIONS: For cancer diagnosis and treatment, we found a statistically significant decrease in hospital admissions in the range of 10-20% for both study periods in comparison to the previous year.
Authors: Cristina M Beltran-Aroca; Rafael Ruiz-Montero; Antonio Llergo-Muñoz; Leticia Rubio; Eloy Girela-López Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-15 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Ottavia Zattra; Anthony Fraga; Nancy Lu; Michael S Gee; Raymond W Liu; Michael H Lev; James A Brink; Sanjay Saini; Min Lang; Marc D Succi Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2021-08-06 Impact factor: 4.711