The impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on the quality of breast cancer care in EUSOMA-certified breast centres

van Dam, Peter; Tomatis, Mariano; Ponti, Antonio; Marotti, Lorenza; Aristei, Cynthia; Biganzoli, Laura; Cardoso, Maria Joao; Cheung, Kwok L.; Curigliano, Giuseppe; De Vries, Jakob; Santini, Donatella; Sardanelli, Francesco; Rubio, Isabel Teresa; Baldini, Valentina; Ballardini, Bettina; Berger, Johannes; Berlière, Martine; Bonetti, Andrea; Bortul, Marina; Bussels, Barbara; Cagossi, Katia; Epifanio Castiglione, Gaetano Antonio; Cedolini, Carla; Esgueva Colmenarejo, Antonio J.; Corsi, Fabio; Cretella, Elisabetta; Fogazzi, Gianluca; Fortunato, Lucio; Fougo, José Luis; Generali, Daniele; Gouveia, Pedro F.; Grossi, Simona; Huscher, Alessandra; Kaelides, Michalis; Kuhn, Elisabetta; Levy, Christelle; Massarut, Samuele; Meani, Francesco; Montemezzi, Stefania; Musolino, Antonio; Negreiros, Ida; Bagge, Roger Olofsson; Pagani, Gianmatteo; Peterko, Ana Car; Prové, Annemie; Roelstraete, Heidi; Roncella, Manuella; Saguatti, Gianni; Sarlos, Dimitri; Sgarella, Adele; Staelens, Gracienne; Taffurelli, Ma...

Abstract

Aims: We analysed the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) on the quality of breast cancer care in certified EUSOMA (European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists) breast centres. Materials and methods: The results of the EUSOMA quality indicators were compared, based on pseudonymised individual records, for the periods 1 March 2020 till 30 June 2020 (first COVID-19 peak in most countries in Europe) and 1 March 2019 till 30 June 2019. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to the participating Centres for investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the organisation and the quality of breast cancer care. Results: Forty-five centres provided data and 31 (67%) responded to the questionnaire. The total number of new cases dropped by 19% and there was a small significant higher tumour (p = 0.003) and lymph node (p = 0.011) stage at presentation. Comparing quality indicators (12,736 patients) by multivariable analysis showed mostly non-significant differences. Surgery could be performed in a COVID-free zone in 94% of the centres, COVID testing was performed before surgery in 96% of the centres, and surgical case load was reduced in 55% of the centres. Modifications of the indications for neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy were necessary in 23%, 23%, and 10% of the centres; changes in indications for adjuvant endocrine, chemo-, targeted, immune, and radiotherapy in 3%, 19%, 3%, 6%, and 10%, respectively. Conclusion: Quality of breast cancer care was well maintained in EUSOMA breast centres during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A small but significantly higher tumour and lymph node stage at presentation was observed.

Citation

van Dam, P., Tomatis, M., Ponti, A., Marotti, L., Aristei, C., Biganzoli, L., …Verhoeven, D. (2022). The impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on the quality of breast cancer care in EUSOMA-certified breast centres. European Journal of Cancer, 177, 72-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2022.09.027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2022
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2023
• Journal: European Journal of Cancer
• Print ISSN: 0959-8049
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-0852
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 177
• Pages: 72-79
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2022.09.027
• Keywords: Cancer Research; Oncology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/12329797
• Publisher URL: https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(22)00767-5/fulltext