Reduction in skin cancer diagnoses in the UK during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Tom W. Andrew, M. Alrawi, Penny E. Lovat
Abstract
The UK healthcare system, including skin cancer departments, has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite service capacity and a worldwide increase in incidence, anecdotal reports suggest a decline in skin cancer diagnoses following COVID-19. To determine if there has been a decrease in skin cancer diagnosis in the UK in the COVID-19 era, we analysed data from the Northern Cancer Network from 23 March 2020 to 23 June 2020 and compared it with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID). In the COVID period, there was a decrease of 68.61% in skin cancer diagnoses, from 3619 to 1136 (P < 0.01). Surprisingly, skin cancer waiting times were also reduced in the COVID period compared to the pre-COVID period (median of 8 and 12 days, respectively; P < 0.001). Collectively, these data highlight a statistically significant reduction in both skin cancer diagnoses and waiting times during the COVID period.