THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON THEINCIDENCE OF CANCER IN AMIDDLE ANATOLIAN CITY IN TURKEY

Abstract

Objective: Cancer-related deaths in all countries of the world, including our country, come second after deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. Covid-19 is a pandemic disease affecting many organs but primarily the lung. The aim of this study is to compare the cancer incidences in the pre-Covid-19 period and during Covid-19 pandemic period in Sivas province by means of age, gender and cancer type distribution of the patients. Methods: The population of the study consists of the patients who applied to health institutions in Sivas between 01.11.2018 and 30.06.2021 and were diagnosed as cancer for the first time. The dependent variable of the study is cancer incidence. The independent variable was the 16 monthstime period comprising before Covid-19 pandemic and during the pandemic period seperately. In addition, patients diagnosed with cancer in both periods are evaluated and compared according to age groups, gender and the type of cancer. Results: In this study, the pre-pandemic period and the pandemic period were compared. It was determined that 1355 patients were diagnosed as cancer during the pre-pandemic period and 1720 patients during the pandemic period. The incidence, which was 212.1 per hundred thousand in the previous period, increased to 270.5 per hundred thousand during the 16-month pandemic period. Conclusion: When the data obtained in our study are compared, it is seen that the incidence of cancer increased during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period.