Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the report of cancer cases in Cuba
Abstract
Introduction: Cuban health care services were affected by the coronavirus disease.
Objective: Describe the behavior of the number of cancer reports received in 2020 as compared with 2019.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted of the number of cases received and expected at the National Cancer Registry in the years 2019 and 2020. Distribution of the number of reports received was estimated with absolute and relative frequencies per yearly diagnosis and reception in relation to the number of reports expected for those years.
Results: A 42.3% reduction was observed in the cancer reports received in 2020 with respect to 2019. The reason for the delay could be under-notification of cases, reorganization of oncology services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or delayed diagnoses because the patients did not attend consultation for fear of becoming ill with COVID-19.
Conclusions: It is necessary to identify the possible causes of this situation in each territory to determine its impact on cancer patient care and devise local strategies to recover all the cases not yet reported.
Key words: cancer, COVID-19, delay, diagnosis, cancer registry.
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