Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Diagnosis of Oesophageal and Gastric Cancers – A Single Centre Study

BACKGROUND Due to a huge focus of healthcare resources on acute COVID-19 care during the early phase of the pandemic, endoscopy activity worldwide was significantly reduced. This subsequently led to a reduction in the number of Oesophageal and Gastric cancers diagnosed during this period, resulting in delayed diagnosis. AIM To measure the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of Oesophageal and Gastric cancers in a single tertiary referral centre. METHODS This was a retrospective study. Patients were divided into three groups based on the period of diagnosis. Period A represented October 2019 – March 2020, B represented April 2020-June 2020, and C represented July 2020-October 2020. Patients were then further subdivided based on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. RESULTS A total of 153 patients diagnosed between October 2019 and October 2020 were included. The mean age was 69.4. During period B, which correlates with the early phase of the pandemic, and reduced endoscopy activity, there was a reduction in the number of cancers diagnosed. 66 patients (43.1%) were diagnosed in Period A, 25 (16.3%) in Period B and 62 (40.5%) in Period C. In respect to Period B, in comparison to the same period in 2019, 40 patients were diagnosed. There was also an increase in the number of cancers diagnosed at an advanced stage in Period C, correlating with the recovery/decelerating phase of the first wave of the pandemic. CONCLUSION This study highlights the risk associated with delayed diagnosis of Upper GI Cancers due to the pandemic.