Search

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic placed considerable strain on the healthcare system, leading to the re-allocation of resources and implementation of new practice guidelines. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 guideline modifications on head and neck cancer (HNC) care at two tertiary care centers in Canada. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted. HNC patients seen at two tertiary care centers before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic: July 1st, 2019, to February 29th, 2020; pandemic: March 1st, 2020, to October 31st, 2020) were included. The pre-pandemic and pandemic cohorts were compared according to patient and tumor characteristics, duration of HNC workup, and treatment type and duration. Mean differences in cancer care wait times, including time to diagnosis, tumor board, and treatment as well as total treatment package time and postoperative hospital stay were compared between cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare characteristics and outcomes between cohorts. Results Pre-pandemic (n = 132) and pandemic (n = 133) patients did not differ significantly in sex, age, habits, or tumor characteristics. The percentage of patients who received surgery only, chemo/radiotherapy (CXRT) only, and surgery plus adjuvant CXRT did not differ significantly between cohorts. Pandemic patients experienced a significant time reduction compared to pre-pandemic patients with regards to the date first seen by a HNC service until start of treatment ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 48.7 and 76.6 days respectively; p = .0001), the date first seen by a HNC service until first presentation at tumor board ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 25.1 and 38 days respectively; p = .001), mean total package time for patients who received surgery only ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 3.7 and 9.0 days respectively; p = .017), and mean total package time for patients who received surgery plus adjuvant CXRT ( $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 80.2 and 112.7 days respectively; p = .035). Conclusion The time to treatment was significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic. This transparent model of patient-centered operative-room prioritization can serve as a model for improving resource allocation and efficiency of HNC care during emergency and non-emergency scenarios.

Abstract Background This study aims to develop and validate, a clinically useful modified index of fragility (mIFG) to identify patients at risk of fragility and to predict postoperative adverse events. Method An observational study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, from 2006 to 2018. All patients undergoing nonemergency head and neck cancer surgery were included. A seven-item index (mIFG) was developed using variables associated with frailty, cachexia, and sarcopenia, drawn from the literature (weight loss, low body mass index, dyspnea, diabetes, serum albumin, hematocrit, and creatinine). Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the association between mIFG, postoperative adverse events and death. A validation cohort was then used to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of the mIFG. Results A total of 23,438 cases were included (16,407 in the derivation group and 7031 in the validation group). There was a total of 4273 postoperative major adverse events (AE) and deaths, 1023 postoperative pulmonary complications and 1721 wound complications. Using the derivation cohort, the 7-item mIFG was independently associated with death, major AEs, pulmonary and wound complications, when controlling for significant covariates. The mIFG predicted death and major adverse events using the validation cohort with an accuracy of 0.70 (95% CI: 0.63–0.76) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.63–0.66), respectively. The mIFG outperformed the modified Frailty index. Conclusion The modified index of fragility is a reliable and easily accessible tool to predict risk of postoperative adverse events and death in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery. Graphical Abstract