2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP17.06. COVID-19 Long-Lasting Effect on Lung Cancer Diagnoses in Italy: Update of the Real-World Multicenter COVID-DELAY Study

EP17.06. COVID-19 Long-Lasting Effect on Lung Cancer Diagnoses in Italy: Update of the Real-World Multicenter COVID-DELAY Study - PDF(Abstract)

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The study presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) 2023 explores the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer diagnoses in Italy. The research is an update of the real-world multicenter COVID-DELAY study. Italy was one of the first and worst affected countries in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on the diagnosis, staging, and treatment outcomes of lung cancer patients in 2021 and 2022 compared to previous years.<br /><br />The researchers reviewed the clinical records of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients from March to December in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 in 15 Italian oncology departments. They looked at the access rate, stages at diagnosis, diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, and progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients and compared the data with previous years.<br /><br />The findings show a significant reduction in new lung cancer cases in 2020 compared to 2019, and this decline persisted in 2021 and 2022. Adenocarcinoma histology and the presence of targetable driver mutations increased during the pandemic. More patients in 2020 and 2021 were diagnosed at stage IV compared to 2019. The diagnostic-therapeutic pathway took longer in 2021 and 2022, and there was a decrease in the participation of patients in clinical trials.<br /><br />The results also indicate that the median progression-free survival was significantly shorter in 2021 and 2022 compared to 2019 and 2020. The study highlights the worsening drop in lung cancer diagnoses after 2020 and suggests that the COVID-19 mitigation efforts could have long-term impacts on outcomes and healthcare costs in oncology.<br /><br />Understanding the long-term impact of COVID-19 on cancer care is crucial for effectively managing cancer patients within the pandemic and preventing dire consequences. The study provides valuable insights into the challenges faced in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic in Italy.

Asset Subtitle

Giulia Mentrasti

Meta Tag

Speaker Giulia Mentrasti

Topic Global Health, Health Services & Health Economics: COVID 19

Keywords

World Conference on Lung Cancer

COVID-19

lung cancer diagnoses

Italy

real-world multicenter COVID-DELAY study

adenocarcinoma histology

stage IV diagnosis

progression-free survival

clinical trials

cancer care management