Differences of Oncology Treatment for Lung Cancer Patients in Pandemic COVID-19 Year: Our Clinical Experience

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that in North Macedonia delays in diagnosis due to COVID-19 pandemic, could result in significant reductions in the number of potentially curative stages in lung cancer patients. Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics and treatment strategy of lung cancer patients treated at the University Clinic of Radiotherapy and Oncology (UCRO), during the pre-pandemic year (from 1 of March 2019 to the end of February 2020) compared to pandemic year (from 1 of March 2020 to the end of February 2021). We analyzed eligible patients in the course of these two years according to the patient characteristics and treatment strategies. Results: We have record increasing in number of undefined lung cancer patients without any pathological or histological conformation (11% pandemic year compared to 7 % in the previous year), and increased number of stage III and IV NSCLC patients in pandemic year 449 (87%) patients of NSCLC, in comparison to the pre-pandemic year 403 (74%). We have found decreasing number of stage II NSCLC patients in pandemic year 82 (13%) compared to 141 (26%) patients in pre-pandemic year and reporting decreasing number of operated patients with NSCLC from 218 to the 123 in the pandemic group. But we have to report increasing number of early stage IA and stage IB patients total 16, treated only by surgery. Conclusions: The strict screening and admittance criteria instilled by hospitals during the pandemic might have improved oncology treatment courses of the lung cancer patients. Keywords: COVID-19, lung cancer, pandemic year