Colorectal Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
COVID-19, colorectal cancer, pandemic waves, follow-up
Brief summary
Background/Objectives: The incidence of colorectal cancer in Hungary exceeds the EU (European Union) average, and the cancer mortality rate is also among the highest in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various areas of healthcare, including cancer diagnosis and treatment. Due to the measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, not only newly suspected cancer patients but also those already diagnosed and undergoing treatment faced numerous difficulties. Methods: The study included 198 patients with colorectal cancer, of whom 43 participants were newly diagnosed cases. Due to low case numbers in certain COVID-19 waves, adjacent waves were merged for statistical analysis. The number of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases across COVID-19 waves was compared using one-way ANOVA, stage distribution differences and the proportion of missed treatments were assessed with Fisher's exact test. In follow-up patients, changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Differences in tumor size categories were examined using chi-square tests.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Pecs
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients with suspected or confirmed colorectal cancer * Patients examined by MRI at Szent Margit Hospital * MRI referral issued between September 2020 and December 2023
Exclusion criteria
* MRI referrals not issued by Szent Margit Hospital
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tumor stage distribution across COVID-19 pandemic waves | September 2020 - December 2023 | Comparison of colorectal cancer tumor stage (AJCC 8th edition) across different COVID-19 pandemic waves and the post-COVID period based on MRI findings. |
| Number of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases | September 2020 - December 2023 | Monthly number of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases across COVID-19 waves and the post-COVID period. |
| TNM classification | September 2020 - December 2023 | TNM classification of colorectal cancer according to the AJCC 8th edition during different COVID-19 pandemic waves in newly diagnosed and follow-up patients. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Presence and distribution of metastases | September 2020 - December 2023 | Presence, number, and organ distribution of metastatic disease based on imaging findings. |
| Tumor progression or regression in follow-up patients | September 2020 - December 2023 | Change in tumor stage between previous imaging and most recent MRI examination. |
| Missed oncologic treatments | September 2020 - December 2023 | Occurrence of missed or delayed oncologic treatments documented during the COVID-19 pandemic period. |
Countries
Hungary
Outcome results
None listed