2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P2.17A.06 Impact of COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment for Lung Cancer in the US National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2014 To 2021

P2.17A.06 Impact of COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment for Lung Cancer in the US National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2014 To 2021

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The study "Impact of COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment for Lung Cancer in the US National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2014 to 2021" examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It focuses on diagnostic stages, treatments administered, and time to treatment initiation (TTI).<br /><br />The retrospective cohort analysis included 767,101 individuals diagnosed with NSCLC in the US NCDB from 2014 to 2021. The study assessed changes by comparing periods before the pandemic (2014-2019) with during the pandemic (2020-2021) using ANOVA, Chi-square, and t-tests. <br /><br />Key findings indicate that with an average age of 69, 49% of the patients were female and 85% were white, reflecting widespread diagnoses across cultural lines. Most patients were covered under Medicare/Medicaid (73%) and a large percentage (47%) received diagnosis and treatment at the same facility.<br /><br />During the COVID-19 period, TTI increased from 40.3 days pre-pandemic to 45.8 days, showcasing the pandemic's significant impact on timely treatment delivery. Notably, Black and Hispanic patients experienced longer TTIs compared to white patients during this time. Diagnosis and treatments at community cancer programs saw an even higher delay, with time increasing by seven days during the pandemic, highlighting healthcare disruptions.<br /><br />The pandemic led to a 5.5-day increase in TTI, with more early-stage lung cancer cases experiencing an eight-day delay during COVID-19. Despite a 2% shift in diagnosing cancers at early stages, initial treatment types remained relatively stable.<br /><br />The study underscores the increased complexity and challenges faced in administering timely cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for further studies to assess long-term consequences on patient survival and adaptation strategies in healthcare. Lessons learned should guide future pandemic preparedness and cancer care models considering timing is crucial for outcomes in cancer therapy.

Asset Subtitle

Isabel Emmerick

Meta Tag

Speaker Isabel Emmerick

Topic Global Health, Health Services & Health Economics

Keywords

COVID-19

lung cancer

non-small cell lung cancer

US National Cancer Database

treatment delay

healthcare disruptions

pandemic impact

racial disparities

cancer care

timely treatment