The Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Delays and Disruptions in Cancer Care Services: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Nat Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2025 Jan 3

PMID 39747650

Authors

Richa Shah

Nader Mounir Hanna

Ching Ee Loo

Michael David

Allini Mafra

Hanna Fink

Ethna McFerran

Montse Garcia

Robabeh Ghodssighassemabadi

Suryakanta Acharya

Jean Niyibaga

Oliver Langselius

Clara Frick

Nwamaka Lasebikan

Jerome Vignat

Julia Steinberg

Suzanne Hughes

Colleen Elizabeth Kircher

Catherine Lindsay Goldie

Sam Egger

Richard Sullivan

Ophira Ginsburg

Freddie Bray

Michael Caruana

Harriet Hui

Andre Michel Ilbawi

Karen Canfell

Isabelle Soerjomataram

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic substantially impacted the delivery of cancer services and programs. Here we reviewed and synthesized the global scale and impact of pandemic-related delays and disruptions on cancer services, including diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, screening, treatment and supportive and palliative care. Based on data from 245 articles in 46 countries, we observed declines in the number of cancer screening participation (39.0%), diagnoses (23.0%), diagnostic procedures (24.0%) and treatment (28.0%), ranging from a 15.0% decline for radiotherapy to a 35.0% decline for systemic treatment during the pandemic compared to during the prepandemic period. Medium-human development index (HDI) category countries experienced greater reductions than high- and very-high-HDI countries. Missing data from low-HDI countries emphasize the need for increased investments in cancer surveillance and research in these settings. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022301816.

Citing Articles

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