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

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.