Delays in Cancer Diagnostic Testing at a Quick Referral Unit in Spain during COVID-19
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Setting
2.2. Study Population
2.3. Data Collection and Measurements
2.4. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Study Population
3.2. Referral Volumes
3.3. Characteristics of Study Population
3.4. Appointments and Procedure Volumes
3.5. Waiting Times
3.6. Cancer Diagnosis
4. Discussion
4.1. Limitations
4.2. Implications
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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2019: 26 February–30 April | COVID-Impacted Period (2020: 26 February–28 April) | p-Value | |
---|---|---|---|
Referrals | |||
Total, n | 201 | 126 | |
Age, years, mean ± SD | 68.22 ± 14.91 | 66.35 ± 13.73 | 0.1134 |
<65 | 70 (34.83) | 47 (37.30) | |
≥65 | 131 (65.17) | 79 (62.70) | |
Sex, n (%) | 0.1324 | ||
Male | 108 (53.73) | 65 (51.59) | |
Female | 93 (46.27) | 61 (48.41) | |
Household income per capita, €, n (%) 1 | 0.1380 | ||
<18,000 | 105 (52.24) | 63 (50.00) | |
18,000–100,000 | 82 (40.80) | 54 (42.86) | |
>100,000 | 14 (6.97) | 9 (7.14) | |
Comorbidity index, n (%) | 0.0556 | ||
0–1 | 141 (70.15) | 94 (74.60) | |
2 | 44 (21.89) | 27 (21.43) | |
≥3 | 16 (7.96) | 5 (3.97) | |
Smoking status, n (%) | 0.1433 | ||
Current | 64 (31.84) | 37 (29.37) | |
Former | 48 (23.88) | 30 (23.81) | |
None | 89 (44.28) | 59 (46.83) | |
Alcohol intake, n (%) | 0.0786 | ||
Excessive | 23 (11.44) | 12 (9.52) | |
Normal limits | 49 (24.38) | 26 (20.64) | |
None | 129 (64.18) | 88 (69.84) | |
Presenting manifestations, n (%) | |||
Unexplained weight loss/fatigue | 31 (15.42) | 22 (17.46) | |
Fever of unknown origin/sweats | 13 (6.48) | 10 (7.94) | |
Nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms and signs | 11 (5.47) | 9 (7.14) | |
Unexplained progressive pain (non-abdominal) | 9 (4.48) | 5 (3.97) | |
Abdominal pain | 14 (6.97) | 10 (7.94) | |
Effusions (ascites, pleural, pericardial) | 9 (4.48) | 4 (3.17) | |
Jaundice/cholestasis | 10 (4.98) | 8 (6.35) | |
Anemia | 32 (15.92) | 18 (14.29) | |
Persistently abnormal laboratory tests | 10 (4.98) | 7 (5.56) | |
Mass (abdominal/liver, lung/mediastinal, bone, brain) | 14 (6.97) | 10 (7.94) | |
Lung consolidation/opacity | 6 (2.99) | 3 (2.38) | |
Abnormal lymphadenopathy/lumps | 16 (7.96) | 8 (6.35) | |
Overt blood loss (hematuria, hematochezia, hemoptysis, vaginal bleeding) | 17 (8.46) | 9 (7.14) | |
Dyspnea/persistent cough | 4 (1.99) | 1 (0.79) | |
Dysphagia | 5 (2.49) | 2 (1.59) | |
Diagnosis, n (%) | |||
Benign organic diseases | 137 (68.16) | 84 (66.67) | |
Cancer | 43 (21.39) | 20 (15.87) | |
Other | 21 (10.45) | 22 (17.46) | |
Cancer: nature of presenting symptoms, n (%) | 0.1295 | ||
Focal | 29 (67.44) | 13 (65.00) | |
Nonspecific | 14 (32.56) | 7 (35.00) | |
Cancer: pre-referral consultations, n (%) | 0.0092 | ||
1 | 22 (51.16) | 9 (45.00) | |
2 | 11 (25.58) | 9 (45.00) | |
≥3 | 10 (23.26) | 2 (10.00) | |
Cancer: performance score, n (%) | 0.0337 | ||
0–1 | 20 (46.51) | 11 (55.00) | |
2 | 15 (34.88) | 6 (30.00) | |
3–4 | 8 (18.60) | 3 (15.00) | |
Nonmalignant organic diseases, n (%) | |||
Hematological | 4 (2.92) | 1 (1.19) | |
Gastrointestinal diseases | 33 (24.09) | 19 (22.62) | |
Genitourinary | 6 (4.38) | 3 (3.57) | |
Respiratory | 4 (2.92) | 4 (4.76) | |
Infections (viral) | 7 (5.11) | 5 (5.95) | |
Gynecological | 6 (4.38) | 2 (2.38) | |
Bone | 7 (5.11) | 4 (4.76) | |
Hepatobiliary/pancreatic diseases | 15 (10.95) | 10 (11.90) | |
Benign neoplasms/reactive lymphadenitis | 6 (4.38) | 4 (4.76) | |
Rheumatic/autoimmune/granulomatous diseases | 9 (6.57) | 5 (5.95) | |
Endocrine diseases | 7 (5.11) | 4 (4.76) | |
Other | 33 (24.09) | 23 (27.38) |
Period (2020) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-COVID | COVID-Impacted | De-Escalation | Second Wave | 26 February–30 December | |
1 January–25 February | 26 February–28 April | 29 April–30 June | 1 July–30 December | ||
Referrals | |||||
Total, n | 176 | 126 | 169 | 504 | 799 |
Mean (weekly) ± SD | 22.00 ± 3.38 | 14.00 ± 3.46 | 18.78 ± 2.11 | 19.38 ± 2.08 | 18.16 ± 3.19 |
p-value | 0.6301 | <0.0001 | 0.0149 | 0.0009 | <0.0001 |
Appointments per case, mean ± SD | 3.13 ± 0.35 | 2.89 ± 0.60 | 3.00 ± 0.50 | 3.23 ± 0.43 | 3.11 ± 0.49 |
p-value | >0.9999 | 0.4442 | 0.6755 | 0.5380 | 0.8321 |
Ratio of successive/first visits, mean ± SD | 1.98 ± 0.23 | 1.77 ± 0.54 | 1.90 ± 0.48 | 2.08 ± 0.37 | 1.98 ± 0.44 |
Ratio of telehealth/total visits, % | 0.37 | 58.51 | 30.27 | 17.67 | 33.56 |
Diagnostic procedure | |||||
GI endoscopy/USE | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 68 (vs. 69) | 43 (vs. 76) | 58 (vs. 77) | 184 (vs. 227) | 285 (vs. 380) |
Mean ± SD | 8.50 ± 1.41 | 4.78 ± 2.17 | 6.44 ± 1.74 | 7.08 ± 1.81 | 6.48 ± 2.04 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | −3.17 (−21.97–15.62) | 42.04 (22.66–61.42) | 24.18 (14.26–34.09) | 14.24 (5.73–22.75) | 21.96 (14.97–28.95) |
p-value | 0.9022 | 0.0058 | 0.0324 | 0.0187 | <0.0001 |
CT scan | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 57 (vs. 59) | 34 (vs. 63) | 50 (vs. 64) | 152 (vs. 179) | 236 (vs. 306) |
Mean ± SD | 7.13 ± 1.55 | 3.78 ± 1.20 | 5.56 ± 1.13 | 5.85 ± 1.41 | 5.36 ± 1.53 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | 1.19 (−14.96–17.34) | 39.42 (17.75–61.08) | 19.66 (7.58–31.73) | 10.53 (2.65–18.41) | 18.30 (11.20–25.40) |
p-value | 0.7682 | 0.0009 | 0.0509 | 0.0502 | 0.0001 |
PET/CT scan | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 24 (vs. 26) | 16 (vs. 27) | 23 (vs. 30) | 69 (vs. 82) | 108 (vs. 139) |
Mean ± SD | 3.00 ± 1.51 | 1.78 ± 1.09 | 2.56 ± 1.13 | 2.65 ± 1.33 | 2.46 ± 1.27 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | −4.79 (−57.46–47.88) | 34.45 (6.70–62.19) | 15.56 (−13.77–44.88) | 9.36 (−4.32–23.04) | 15.76 (4.89–26.63) |
p-value | 0.7166 | 0.0746 | 0.2474 | 0.2111 | 0.0199 |
Ultrasonography | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 45 (vs. 47) | 32 (vs. 50) | 40 (vs. 52) | 122 (vs. 142) | 194 (vs. 244) |
Mean ± SD | 5.63 ± 2.39 | 3.56 ± 2.19 | 4.44 ± 1.51 | 4.69 ± 1.69 | 4.41 ± 1.78 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | 5.00 (−7.99–17.99) | 38.37 (17.36–59.39) | 22.72 (6.00–39.45) | 13.60 (3.23–23.96) | 20.53 (12.45–28.61) |
p-value | 0.8381 | 0.0412 | 0.0694 | 0.1132 | 0.0024 |
Invasive procedures | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 19 (vs. 20) | 11 (vs. 22) | 13 (vs. 21) | 46 (vs. 60) | 70 (vs. 103) |
Mean ± SD | 2.38 ± 1.19 | 1.22 ± 0.97 | 1.44 ± 0.53 | 1.77 ± 0.95 | 1.59 ± 0.90 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | 2.50 (−25.00–30.00) | 47.22 (17.87–76.58) | 29.63 (6.73–52.53) | 17.37 (5.87–28.87) | 25.99 (16.13–35.84) |
p-value | 0.8368 | 0.0189 | 0.0314 | 0.0729 | 0.0006 |
Biopsy/cytology procedures | |||||
(ambulatory) | |||||
Number per period (vs. 2019) | 21 (vs. 23) | 13 (vs. 25) | 19 (vs. 26) | 59 (vs. 72) | 91 (vs. 123) |
Mean ± SD | 2.63 ± 1.06 | 1.44 ± 0.88 | 2.11 ± 0.60 | 2.27 ± 1.00 | 2.07 ± 0.95 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | 5.21(−19.75–30.17) | 40.37 (12.00–68.74) | 25.00 (8.05–41.95) | 15.38 (1.70–29.07) | 22.46 (12.33–32.59) |
p-value | 0.6337 | 0.0116 | 0.0144 | 0.0596 | 0.0003 |
Period (2020) | Waiting Times (Days, Mean ± SD) | Percent Increase (95% CI) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|
Appointments | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 2.59 ± 0.21 | −1.78 (−11.73–8.17) | 0.5911 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 5.61 ± 0.61 | 106.80 (87.46–126.20) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 4.59 ± 0.24 | 75.41 (59.54–91.29) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (July 1–30 December) | 3.80 ± 0.38 | 48.14 (39.83–56.45) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 4.33 ± 0.83 | 65.72 (56.09–75.36) | <0.0001 |
GI endoscopy/USE | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 5.45 ± 0.44 | −0.54 (−7.84–6.76) | 0.8305 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 14.32 ± 3.24 | 161.50 (111.60–211.40) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 10.45 ± 0.84 | 85.58 (66.33–104.80) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 8.67 ± 0.69 | 58.11 (51.74–64.49) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 10.19 ± 2.71 | 84.88 (69.06–100.70) | <0.0001 |
CT scan | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 4.22 ± 0.29 | −0.09 (−8.18–8.01) | 0.8880 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 11.46 ± 2.62 | 171.20 (118.20–224.10) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 8.11 ± 0.96 | 90.61 (69.35–111.90) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 6.87 ± 0.59 | 62.33 (54.73–69.93) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 8.06 ± 2.22 | 90.37 (73.52–107.20) | <0.0001 |
PET/CT scan | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 4.17 ± 0.54 | 0.74 (−11.88–13.35) | 0.9880 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 10.36 ± 2.28 | 152.50 (98.21–206.90) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 7.26 ± 1.31 | 74.60 (47.82–101.40) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 6.47 ± 0.60 | 55.84 (48.52–63.16) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 7.43 ± 1.96 | 79.45 (63.35–95.56) | <0.0001 |
Ultrasonography | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 3.35 ± 0.37 | −1.44 (−10.11–7.22) | 0.7302 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 8.39 ± 2.39 | 148.40 (89.28–207.50) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 6.20 ± 0.61 | 85.69 (65.26–106.10) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 5.35 ± 0.51 | 58.95 (49.97–67.93) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 6.15 ± 1.65 | 82.72 (66.73–98.71) | <0.0001 |
Invasive procedures | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 5.16 ± 0.47 | −0.70 (−8.78–7.38) | 0.8175 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 15.53 ± 3.81 | 200.70 (144.20–257.20) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 11.48 ± 1.29 | 122.90 (95.82–150.00) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 8.80 ± 0.64 | 70.64 (65.46–75.82) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 10.73 ± 3.23 | 107.90 (88.66–127.20) | <0.0001 |
Biopsy/cytology procedures | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 3.82 ± 0.36 | −0.91 (−6.77–4.94) | 0.8230 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 8.16 ± 2.22 | 111.20 (71.97–150.40) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 6.63 ± 0.52 | 73.19 (64.29–82.09) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 5.84 ± 0.36 | 52.68 (47.17–58.19) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 6.48 ± 1.37 | 68.85 (58.51–79.18) | <0.0001 |
Time-to-diagnosis | |||
Pre-COVID (1 January–25 February) | 10.38 ± 0.59 | 0.84 (−8.22–9.89) | 0.9258 |
COVID-impacted (26 February–28 April) | 20.14 ± 3.72 | 97.04 (65.15–128.90) | <0.0001 |
De-escalation (29 April–30 June) | 15.54 ± 0.90 | 51.17 (41.99–60.35) | <0.0001 |
Second wave (1 July–30 December) | 13.64 ± 0.86 | 32.87 (28.47–37.27) | <0.0001 |
26 February–30 December | 15.36 ± 3.12 | 49.74 (39.85–59.62) | <0.0001 |
Period (2020) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre-COVID | COVID-Impacted | De-Escalation | Second Wave | 26 February–30 December | |
Total, n (%) | 38/176 (21.59) | 20/126 (15.87) | 29/169 (17.16) | 93/504 (18.45) | 142/799 (17.77) |
Mean (weekly) ± SD | 4.75 ± 1.28 | 2.22 ± 1.48 | 3.22 ± 1.72 | 3.58 ± 1.30 | 3.23 ± 1.49 |
Percent reduction (95% CI) | −2.59 (−24.09–18.92) | 54.07 (32.45–75.70) | 30.03 (−1.89–61.94) | 17.55 (2.63–32.47) | 27.57 (15.91–39.23) |
p-value | 0.8631 | 0.0005 | 0.0439 | 0.0028 | <0.0001 |
Primary site/stage III-IV, n (%)/(%) | |||||
Pancreatic | 7 (18.42)/5 (71.43) | 4 (20.00)/3 (75.00) | 6 (20.70)/4 (66.67) | 15 (16.13)/12 (80.00) | 25 (17.61)/19 (76.00) |
Colorectal | 6 (15.79)/3 (50.00) | 3 (15.00)/1 (33.33) | 5 (17.24)/2 (40.00) | 18 (19.35)/10 (55.56) | 26 (18.31)/13 (50.00) |
Hematological | 6 (15.79)/(n.a.) | 3 (15.00)/(n.a.) | 4 (13.79)/(n.a.) | 15 (16.13)/(n.a.) | 22 (15.49)/(n.a.) |
Lung | 5 (13.16)/3 (60.00) | 2 (10.00)/1 (50.00) | 4 (13.79)/3 (75.00) | 13 (13.98)/11 (84.62) | 19 (13.38)/15 (78.95) |
Upper gastrointestinal tract | 3 (7.89)/2 (66.67) | 1 (5.00)/1 (100.00) | 2 (6.90)/1 (50.00) | 6 (6.45)/6 (100.00) | 9 (6.34)/8 (88.89) |
Renal and bladder | 2 (5.26)/1 (50.00) | 1 (5.00)/0 (0.00) | 2 (6.90)/1 (50.00) | 4 (4.30)/1 (25.00) | 7 (4.93)/2 (28.57) |
Hepatobiliary | 2 (5.26)/2 (100.00) | 1 (5.00)/1 (100.00) | 1 (3.45)/1 (100.00) | 4 (4.30)/3 (75.00) | 6 (4.23)5 (83.33) |
Breast | 2 (5.26)/1 (50.00) | 2 (10.00)/2 (100.00) | 2 (6.90)/2 (100.00) | 7 (7.53)/5 (71.43) | 11 (7.75)/9 (81.82) |
Prostate | 2 (5.26)/2 (100.00) | 1 (5.00)/1 (100.00) | 1 (3.45)/1 (100.00) | 3 (3.23)/2 (66.67) | 5 (3.52)/4 (80.00) |
Gynecological 1 | 1 (2.63)/0 (0.00) | 1 (5.00)/1 (100.00) | 1 (3.45)/1 (100.00) | 4 (4.30)/3 (75.00) | 6 (4.23)/5 (83.33) |
Cancer of unknown primary site | 1 (2.63)/1 (100.00) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (1.08)/1 (100.00) | 1 (0.70)/1 (100.00) |
Sarcoma | 1 (2.63)/1 (100.00) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 2 (2.15)/1 (50.00) | 2 (1.41)/1 (50.00) |
Neuroendocrine tumor | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (3.45)/1 (100.00) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (0.70)/1 (100.00) |
Malignant melanoma | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (5.00)/1 (100.00) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (0.70)/1 (100.00) |
Mesothelioma | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 0 (0.00)/(n.a.) | 1 (1.08)/1 (100.00) | 1 (0.70)1 (100.00) |
Stage III-IV 2, total n (%) | 21/32 (65.63) | 12/17 (70.59) | 17/25 (68.00) | 56/78 (71.79) | 85/120 (70.83) |
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Bosch, X.; Torres, M.; Moreno, P.; López-Soto, A. Delays in Cancer Diagnostic Testing at a Quick Referral Unit in Spain during COVID-19. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 2096. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112096
Bosch X, Torres M, Moreno P, López-Soto A. Delays in Cancer Diagnostic Testing at a Quick Referral Unit in Spain during COVID-19. Diagnostics. 2021; 11(11):2096. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112096
Chicago/Turabian StyleBosch, Xavier, Manuel Torres, Pedro Moreno, and Alfonso López-Soto. 2021. "Delays in Cancer Diagnostic Testing at a Quick Referral Unit in Spain during COVID-19" Diagnostics 11, no. 11: 2096. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112096
APA StyleBosch, X., Torres, M., Moreno, P., & López-Soto, A. (2021). Delays in Cancer Diagnostic Testing at a Quick Referral Unit in Spain during COVID-19. Diagnostics, 11(11), 2096. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112096