The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary care cancer center: analyzing administrative data

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with cancer need to receive their proper treatment and often cannot wait for their treatment, despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many cancer centers have had challenges maintaining their oncological activities.

Objectives: To compare the average hospital management data and indicators in two different periods, with and without the peak of COVID-19 cases, from an important tertiary cancer center in the northeast region of Brazil.

Methods: A retrospective and observational study was performed comparing average hospital administrative data and indicators, between January to March v April to June, 2020 exclusively at the Hospital de Câncer de Pernambuco, Brazil.

Results: There were on average a 13% reduction in the chemotherapy administered (P = .131), 17% fewer radiotherapy treatments carried out (P = .043) and 41% as many oncologic surgeries undertaken (P = .002). There was a reduction in the number of sessions of out-patient chemotherapy of 8•6% (P = .271) and chemotherapy inpatients of 33% (P = .038). Admission of new cases of patients with cancer was reduced by 44% (P = .007) during the period analyzed. Ambulatory appointments also decreased by 55% (P = .004) and emergency room appointments fell by 7•9% (P = .495). The number of hospitalizations was reduced by 36% (P = .005) and the occupancy rate decreased by 23•6% (P = .003), while the length of individual hospital stays (in days) increased 10•5% (P = .116).

Conclusion: We report a reduction in the number of radiotherapy treatments and surgeries performed cancer carried out, ambulatory and emergency appointments, hospitalization and admission of new cases of cancer during peak of COVID-19 in an important public tertiary cancer center in the northeast region of Brazil.