1. The unfavorable effects of COVID-19 on Dutch advanced melanoma care
- Author
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Christian U. Blank, John B. A. G. Haanen, Doranne L. Hilarius, Michel W. J. M. Wouters, Willeke A. M. Blokx, Franchette W P J van den Berkmortel, Ellen Kapiteijn, Rawa K. Ismail, Geke A. P. Hospers, Jesper van Breeschoten, Alfonsus J. M. van den Eertwegh, Rozemarijn S. van Rijn, Jan Willem B. de Groot, Maureen J.B. Aarts, D Piersma, Astrid A M van der Veldt, G. Vreugdenhil, Marion A. M. Stevense-den Boer, Marye Boers-Sonderen, Karijn P M Suijkerbuijk, Olivier J. van Not, Melissa M. De Meza, RS: GROW - R3 - Innovative Cancer Diagnostics & Therapy, Interne Geneeskunde, MUMC+: MA Medische Oncologie (9), Medical Oncology, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Guided Treatment in Optimal Selected Cancer Patients (GUTS), Internal medicine, Medical oncology, AII - Cancer immunology, CCA - Cancer Treatment and quality of life, Obstetrics and gynaecology, and Amsterdam Reproduction & Development (AR&D)
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,advanced melanoma ,Cancer Research ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Skin Neoplasms ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,IMPACT ,nationwide registry ,Medical care ,Systemic therapy ,Healthcare improvement science Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 18] ,systemic therapy ,SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being ,COVID‐19 ,Humans ,Medicine ,Stage IIIC ,Cancer Therapy and Prevention ,Melanoma ,Aged ,Netherlands ,Advanced melanoma ,Aged, 80 and over ,Control period ,Performance status ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,COVID-19 ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,clinical outcomes ,Oncology ,Female ,business - Abstract
The COVID‐19 pandemic had a severe impact on medical care. Our study aims to investigate the impact of COVID‐19 on advanced melanoma care in the Netherlands. We selected patients diagnosed with irresectable stage IIIc and IV melanoma during the first and second COVID‐19 wave and compared them with patients diagnosed within the same time frame in 2018 and 2019. Patients were divided into three geographical regions. We investigated baseline characteristics, time from diagnosis until start of systemic therapy and postponement of anti‐PD‐1 courses. During both waves, fewer patients were diagnosed compared to the control groups. During the first wave, time between diagnosis and start of treatment was significantly longer in the southern region compared to other regions (33 vs 9 and 15 days, P‐value, What's new? Little is known about the effects of COVID‐19 on advanced melanoma care. In this study, the authors examined several quality indicators of care. They observed a worsening in baseline characteristics, longer time between diagnosis and start of treatment and more postponed anti‐PD‐1 antibody courses with differences between the northern, middle and southern regions. Future studies are necessary to assess the long‐term consequences of our observed changes in advanced melanoma care.
- Published
- 2022