Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic during Spain's state of emergency on the diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Javier Suárez, Elena Mata, Ana Guerra, Gloria Jiménez, Marta Montes, Fernando Arias, M. A. Ciga, Eugenia Ursúa, María Ederra, Beñat Arín, Matilde LaIglesia, A. Pedregosa Sanz, Ruth Vera
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We evaluate the impact of COVID-epidemic in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis during Spain's state of emergency. METHODS: We compared newly diagnosed patients with patients diagnosed in the same period of 2019. RESULTS: A new diagnosis of CRC decreased 48% with a higher rate of patients diagnosed in the emergency setting (12.1% vs. 3.6%; p = .048) and a lower rate diagnosed in the screening program (5.2% vs. 33.3%; p = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Fewer patients have been diagnosed with CRC, with a higher rate of patients diagnosed in an emergency setting.