Purpose: Our aim was to see the possible effect of the first COVID pandemic wave in Lithuania on colorectal cancer (CRC) preventive, diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using the database of the National Cancer Institute, Lithuania. We have divided patients into two groups: group 1 - patients treated during the nonpandemic period (2019 January 1 to 2019 July 31) and group 2 - the pandemic period (2020 January 1 to 2020 July 31). We analyzed numbers of screening, therapeutic colonoscopies performed, and treated patients for CRC during two periods.

Results: In general, 1318 lower gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were performed in the first group and 862 procedures in the second group, which was 34.6% less compared to the first group. The first group included 672 (51%) colonoscopies, 172 (13%) day surgeries and 474 (36%) CRC screening programmes. In group 2, 456 (34.6%) less patients underwent CRC diagnostics and treatment: 141 (21%) less colonoscopies, 93 (54%) less day surgeries, 222 (47%) less CRC screening programmes, and 26 (13%) less patients were hospitalized for surgical treatment (196 vs 170).

Conclusion: Our study reveals worrying changes in the timely access to diagnostic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic that possibly provoked rise in cases with the advanced stage CRC. However, despite numerical difference between groups existed, the difference between groups do not reach statistical significant level.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10417012PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.15388/Amed.2023.30.1.4DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

colorectal cancer
8
covid-19 pandemic
8
day surgeries
8
crc screening
8
screening programmes
8
difference groups
8
group
7
crc
6
patients
5
changes colorectal
4

Similar Publications

Fear of cancer recurrence in long-term colorectal cancer survivors: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

J Cancer Surviv

January 2025

The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture With Cancer Council NSW, 153 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, NSW, 2011, Australia.

Purpose: Knowledge about fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among recurrence-free long-term colorectal cancer survivors (CRCS) is limited. This national cross-sectional study aimed to (1) assess the prevalence and correlates of FCR among CRCS; (2) investigate associations between colorectal cancer-specific symptoms and FCR; and (3) identify predictors of interest in engaging in FCR treatment.

Methods: We identified 9638 living Danish CRCS, age above 18 years, diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 through the Danish Clinical Registries.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Marathon training and running have many beneficial effects on human health and physical fitness; however, they also pose risks. To date, no comprehensive review regarding both the benefits and risks of marathon running on different organ systems has been published.

Main Body: The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive review of the benefits and risks of marathon training and racing on different organ systems.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health challenge, marked by varying incidence and mortality rates across different regions. The pathogenesis of CRC involves multiple stages, including initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis, influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors. The chaperone protein glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), crucial in regulating the unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, plays a pivotal role in CRC pathogenesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning provide candidate drugs against drug-tolerant persister cells in colorectal cancer.

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis

January 2025

Center for Mathematical Modeling and Data Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan. Electronic address:

Drug resistance often stems from drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells in cancer. These cells arise from various lineages and exhibit complex dynamics. However, effectively targeting DTP cells remains challenging.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: A key element in ensuring appropriate balance of harms and benefits in cancer screening is to develop a priority set of performance and outcome indicators to be used in screening data evaluation systems. These indicators need to be equity-focused, aligned to new screening approaches and broad-based to cover possible opportunistic screening, but at the same time as limited as possible.

Study Design: Indicators for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs were chosen through a consensus building Delphi methodology involving a panel of cancer screening experts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!