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Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 on Pathology Laboratories and Cancer Diagnosis in Girona

Arantza Sanvisens, Montse Puigdemont, Jordi Rubió-Casadevall, Anna Vidal-Vila, Eugeni López-Bonet, Ferran Martín-Romero and Rafael Marcos-Gragera
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Arantza Sanvisens: Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry, Institut de Recerca Contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras, 17004 Girona, Spain
Montse Puigdemont: Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry, Institut Català d’Oncologia, Pla Director d’Oncologia, 17004 Girona, Spain
Jordi Rubió-Casadevall: Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI), 17004 Girona, Spain
Anna Vidal-Vila: Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry, Institut Català d’Oncologia, Pla Director d’Oncologia, 17004 Girona, Spain
Eugeni López-Bonet: Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta, 17007 Girona, Spain
Ferran Martín-Romero: Department of Pathology, Hospital de Figueres, Fundació Salut Empordà, 17600 Figueres, Spain
Rafael Marcos-Gragera: Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry, Institut de Recerca Contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras, 17004 Girona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Introduction: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has compromised socio-health care, with consequences for the diagnosis and follow-up of other pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis in Girona, Spain. Methodology: Observational study of samples received in two pathology laboratories during 2019–2020 (tertiary hospital in Girona and county hospital in Figueres). Date, sample type, and location and morphology were available. Samples were recoded to determine malignancy and grouped by location. Comparisons were made by calendar year and period of exposure to COVID-19. Results: 102,360 samples were included: 80,517 from Girona and 21,843 from Figueres. The reduction in activity in the pathology laboratories in 2020 compared to the previous year was 25.4% in Girona and 27.5% in Figueres. The reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020 compared to 2019 was 6.8% in Girona and 21% in Figueres. In both laboratories, a decrease was observed in the diagnoses of neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum and anus, kidney and urinary system, melanoma, and central nervous system. A statistically significant higher probability of a sample received in the pathology laboratory displaying malignancy during COVID-19 was found (Girona: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.23–1.34; Figueres: OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.20) with respect to the COVID-19-free period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in cancer diagnoses by pathology departments that varies according to tumor location and type of hospital. Despite this, the optimization of care resources and the recovery effort have partially reduced the impact of the pandemic in certain neoplasms.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; pathology; diagnosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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