2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (ePosters)-EP03.01-004. Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic in Lung Cancer Patients in Albania

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A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Albania to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of lung cancer patients. The study compared data from 2019 and 2020, focusing on demographic, clinical, and histological characteristics of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients.<br /><br />In 2019, there were a total of 377 lung cancer patients, while in 2020, the number dropped to 172. The male to female ratio remained the same at 4:1, with 296 males and 41 females in 2019, and 156 males and 16 females in 2020. The median age of patients was 65.9 years in 2019 and 63.8 years in 2020.<br /><br />The study found that 60% of lung cancer cases in 2019 were non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while in 2020, 75% were NSCLC. This shift in histological characteristics could be attributed to various factors that need further investigation.<br /><br />The main conclusion of the study was that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the diagnosis of lung cancer. The number of lung cancer diagnoses dropped by 45% in 2020 compared to 2019, likely due to healthcare resources being prioritized for COVID-19 patients. The study acknowledges that the data collection is ongoing, and further data will be gathered to fully understand the overall impact of the pandemic on the lung cancer patient population.<br /><br />The corresponding author of the study is Dr. Daniela Xhemalaj, the Head of Pathology at University Hospital "Shefqet Ndroqi" in Tirana, Albania. The study highlights the need for further research in this area to fully comprehend the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on lung cancer patients.

Asset Subtitle

Daniela Xhemalaj

Meta Tag

Speaker Daniela Xhemalaj

Topic Epidemiology

Keywords

retrospective cohort study

COVID-19 pandemic

lung cancer patients

diagnosis

Albania

demographic characteristics

clinical characteristics

histological characteristics

2019

2020