Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Mando D. Filipe; Désirée van Deukeren; Marijn Kip; Annemiek Doeksen; Apollo Pronk; Paul M. Verheijen; Joost T. Heikens; Arjen J. Witkamp; Milan C. Richir

doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Mando D. Filipe^*, Désirée van Deukeren, Marijn Kip, Annemiek Doeksen, Apollo Pronk, Paul M. Verheijen, Joost T. Heikens, Arjen J. Witkamp, Milan C. Richir

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period.

RESULTS: A total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: The temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	454-461
Number of pages	8
Journal	Clinical breast cancer
Volume	20
Issue number	6
Early online date	7 Aug 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002
Publication status	Published - Dec 2020

Keywords

Breast cancer
Complications
Coronavirus disease 2019
Pandemic
Surgery
Breast Neoplasms/pathology
Humans
Middle Aged
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19/epidemiology
Postoperative Complications/epidemiology
Adult
Female
Aged
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies
Neoplasm Staging

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10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002

1-s2.0-S152682092030207X-mainFinal published version, 1.15 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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@article{38d03c29a32649d499f067b80f55f198,

title = "Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period.RESULTS: A total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period.CONCLUSIONS: The temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.",

keywords = "Breast cancer, Complications, Coronavirus disease 2019, Pandemic, Surgery, Breast Neoplasms/pathology, Humans, Middle Aged, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19/epidemiology, Postoperative Complications/epidemiology, Adult, Female, Aged, Referral and Consultation, Retrospective Studies, Neoplasm Staging",

author = "Filipe, {Mando D.} and {van Deukeren}, D{\'e}sir{\'e}e and Marijn Kip and Annemiek Doeksen and Apollo Pronk and Verheijen, {Paul M.} and Heikens, {Joost T.} and Witkamp, {Arjen J.} and Richir, {Milan C.}",

year = "2020",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

pages = "454--461",

number = "6",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands

T2 - A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

AU - Filipe, Mando D.

AU - van Deukeren, Désirée

AU - Kip, Marijn

AU - Doeksen, Annemiek

AU - Pronk, Apollo

AU - Verheijen, Paul M.

AU - Heikens, Joost T.

AU - Witkamp, Arjen J.

AU - Richir, Milan C.

PY - 2020/12

Y1 - 2020/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period.RESULTS: A total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period.CONCLUSIONS: The temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.

AB - BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put a strain on regular healthcare worldwide. In the Netherlands, the national screening programs, including for breast cancer, were halted temporarily. This posed a challenge to breast cancer care, because ∼40% of cases are detected through national screening. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical care of patients with breast cancer in the Netherlands.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present multicenter retrospective cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery from March 9 to May 17, 2020. The primary endpoints were the number of surgical procedures performed during the study period, tumor characteristics, surgery type, and route of referral. The secondary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative complications during the study period.RESULTS: A total of 217 consecutive patients with breast cancer requiring surgery were included. We found an overall decrease in the number of patients with breast cancer who were undergoing surgery. The most significant decline was seen in surgery for T1-T2 and N0 tumors. A decline in the number of referrals from both the national screening program and general practitioners was observed. The incidence of postoperative complications remained stable during the study period.CONCLUSIONS: The temporary halt of the national screening program for breast cancer resulted in fewer surgical procedures during the study period and a pronounced decrease in surgery of the lower tumor stages.

KW - Breast cancer

KW - Complications

KW - Coronavirus disease 2019

KW - Pandemic

KW - Surgery

KW - Breast Neoplasms/pathology

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

KW - Postoperative Complications/epidemiology

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Aged

KW - Referral and Consultation

KW - Retrospective Studies

KW - Neoplasm Staging

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U2 - 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002

DO - 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.08.002

M3 - Article

C2 - 32888855

AN - SCOPUS:85090132771

SN - 1526-8209

VL - 20

SP - 454

EP - 461

JO - Clinical breast cancer

JF - Clinical breast cancer

IS - 6

ER -

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Care in the Netherlands: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

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