Keywords
COVID-19 - breast cancer - newly diagnosed - impact - audit
Introduction
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed tumor with 2.3 million cases in 2020
representing 11.7% of all cancer cases and the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality
with 685,000 deaths worldwide.[1] In India, breast cancer accounted for 13.5% (178,361) of all cancer cases and 10.6%
(90,408) of all deaths as per the GLOBOCAN data 2020.[2] The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had spread all over the world creating
havoc in every aspect of life from health care to the economy and was declared a pandemic
in March 2020.[3] Consequently, there was a complete reorganization of the health system, including
reallocation of crucial human and economic health resources toward care of COVID-19
patients. Also, people were frightened; older patients and those with existing health
conditions were forced to isolate themselves as much as possible. This reduced the
number of people seeking health care. All these had a strong impact on new cancer
diagnoses.[4] Ferrara et al from Italy showed a 38.2% decrease in new breast cancer diagnoses.[5] A multicenter analysis of early breast cancer patients from Hubei, China reported
that breast cancer diagnosis rates were 5.2% in Hubei where strict lockdown measures
were in place but were 15.3% in provinces where lockdown measures were not in place.[6] Data from 41 cancer centers across India demonstrate that cancer care was widely
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a substantial decline in the number of
new registrations, follow-up visits, cancer surgeries, radiotherapy and chemotherapy
sessions.[7] The delay in diagnosis and treatment interruptions is likely to cause a stage migration
and higher cancer-related mortality in the coming years. The aim of this audit is
to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed
breast cancer patients at a tertiary cancer center in south India.
Material and Methods
This study analyzed the data of all the patients who were registered at the Regional
Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India for breast cancer during the
period April 2020, to September 2020 (COVID-19 period) as well as April 2019, to September
2019 (pre-COVID-19 period). A total of 1,005 patients had registered between April
2019, and September 2019, and 642 patients during the period April 2020, to September
2020, with newly diagnosed breast cancer. The study was approved by the Institutional
Review Board. Patients' records were reviewed and data on patient demographics, clinical,
treatment, and follow-up details were captured in a structured datasheet.
The following factors were assessed:
-
Geographic distribution (district-wise).
-
Time since symptom onset and reporting to a local hospital and RCC.
-
Clinical stage at presentation.
-
Average time since date of registration to date of pathological confirmation at RCC.
-
Average time since date of registration to date of commencement of treatment (surgery
or systemic therapy).
-
Average time to date of start of radiotherapy after completion of chemotherapy or
following surgery (for those who are postneoadjuvant systemic therapy).
-
Number of patients who were referred elsewhere for commencing or continuation of treatment.
Statistical Analysis
Means and ranges were calculated for continuous type variables, and numbers and percentages
for categorical variables. To determine whether there were significant differences
between the two groups, independent t-test was used for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical type of
variables.
Results
A total of 1,647 patients were included in the study. There was a 36% reduction in
newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in 2020 when compared with 2019 (642 vs. 1,005).
The mean age of the patients registered in 2019 was 53.5 years (22–92 years) and in
2020 was 54 years (26–91 years) (p = 0.22). There was no significant difference in histological or molecular subtype
between the groups, ductal histology, and luminal B subtype accounting for majority
in both cohorts.
There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of patients in both
cohorts (p = 0.001). Thiruvananthapuram district is located in the southernmost end of Kerala.
Of the 14 districts, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alleppey,
Idukki, and Ernakulam were considered as the southern districts and rest as northern
districts. There was an 81% reduction in the number of patients reporting to RCC for
treatment from the northern districts of Kerala (162 vs. 30) during the COVID-19 period.
Likewise, there was an 89.5% reduction in number of patients reporting from outside
the state of Kerala in the COVID-19 period (124 vs. 13). In 2020, of the 642 newly
registered patients, 428 patients (66.6%) hailed from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam
districts.
There was no significant difference in the time (in weeks) since symptom onset and
reporting to a local hospital and RCC in either cohort (23.2 vs. 22.8 weeks). A subgroup
analysis of patients from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts showed no significant
difference in the time (in weeks) since symptom onset and reporting to a local hospital
and RCC in either cohort (20.5 vs. 22.3 weeks). The most common stage at presentation
was stage II in both cohorts (47.6 vs. 46.4%) followed by stage III (22.2 vs. 23.3%).
No significant difference in clinical stage at diagnosis was noted between the two
groups ([Figs. 1],[2],[3]).
Fig. 1 Number of newly registered breast cancer patients in both cohorts.
Fig. 2 Time intervals (weeks) since symptom onset and reporting to hospital or Regional
Cancer Centre.
Fig. 3 The clinical stage-wise distribution in both groups.
The average time since date of registration to date of pathological confirmation was
1.8 weeks in both cohorts (p = 0.99). The average time since date of registration to date of commencement of primary
treatment, which was either surgery or systemic therapy depending on the clinical
stage and/or molecular subtype, was 5.8 weeks in 2019 and 5.3 weeks in 2020 (p = 0.39). The average time since date of registration to date of surgery was 5.9 weeks
in 2019 and 6 weeks in 2020 (p = 0.85), and time since registration and start of neoadjuvant systemic therapy was
5.5 weeks in 2019 and 4.6 weeks in 2020 (p = 0.30). The average time interval to the start of radiotherapy after completion
of adjuvant chemotherapy or following surgery (for those who were postneoadjuvant
systemic therapy) was 2.6 weeks longer in 2020, but this was not statistically significant
(9.5 vs. 12.1) (p = 0.35). Fewer patients were referred elsewhere for commencing or continuation of
treatment in 2020 compared with 2019. Only 98 patients (15%) were referred outside
RCC for treatment in 2020 compared with 267 patients (27%) in 2019, and this difference
was statistically significant (p < 0.001) ([Fig. 4]).
Fig. 4 Time intervals (weeks) to registration and diagnosis and treatment in both groups.
Nearly 85% of patients underwent curative intent therapy in both years. Six hundred
and three (60%) patients underwent primary surgery in 2019 compared with 335 patients
(52.2%) in 2020. More patients received neoadjuvant systemic therapy in 2020 compared
with 2019 (31.9 vs. 25%; p = 0.004). Among patients who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy, most received
neoadjuvant chemotherapy, only five patients received neoadjuvant endocrine therapy
(one patient in 2019 and four patients in 2020). The type of surgery did not differ
between the two cohorts; the proportion of patients who underwent breast-conserving
surgery (BCS) were 30.9 and 31.8% and modified radical mastectomy (MRM) were 69.1
and 68.2% in 2019 and 2020, respectively (p = 0.74). All patients in either cohort who required adjuvant radiation received hypofractionated
radiotherapy dose of 40 Gy in 15 fractions, 5 fractions a week for 3 weeks with a
boost of 10 Gy in 5 fractions for those with a conserved breast.
Discussion
The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc in every aspect of life from health care to the
economy and was declared a pandemic in March 2020.[3] Consequently, there was a reorganization of the health system, including reallocation
of crucial human and economic health resources toward the care of COVID-19 patients.
This adversely affected the delivery of cancer services throughout the world.[8] This institute continued to provide cancer services—albeit scaled down—even during
lockdown period. Outpatient visits were restricted to those with new diagnosis of
cancer or relapse and those on active cancer-directed treatment. Surgeries were stopped
during the initial days of total lockdown. Systemic therapies and radiotherapy which
were already commenced were continued as scheduled with safety measures. Patients
with high-risk disease such as human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive and
triple-negative cancers were prioritized for commencing therapy. Nevertheless, due
to the logistic constraints posed by the lockdown, many patients were unable to access
the cancer care services. A decline in cancer diagnoses was observed in most countries
and for almost all tumor sites.[4]
[9] This analysis shows a steep reduction (36%) in new patients with breast cancer in
2020 at RCC compared with the prepandemic period which is similar to findings reported
in Italy.[5]
[10] There was no significant difference in the time (in weeks) since symptom onset and
reporting to hospital, and also the clinical stage at diagnosis was not different
between the two cohorts. The most common stage at presentation was stage II in both
cohorts (47.6 vs. 46.4%) followed by stage III (22.2 vs. 23.3%). This is in contrast
to few studies that reported stage migration to advanced stages at presentation of
patients with breast cancer.[10]
[11]
[12] There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of patients, with
fewer patients reporting to this institute which is located in southernmost end of
Kerala from northern districts of Kerala in 2020 compared with 2019. Only 13 patients
reported from outside Kerala in 2020 compared with 124 patients in 2019. This was
due to the strict lockdown and travel restrictions initiated by the government during
the COVID-19 times.[13]
This analysis did not show any statistically significant difference in terms of time
to diagnosis, initiation of systemic therapy, surgical and radiation therapy procedures
between the two cohorts. The average time since date of registration to date of pathological
confirmation and commencement of treatment was similar in 2020 and 2019. These results
demonstrate that COVID-19 did not appear to negatively impact the diagnosis and treatment
of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at our center. It is recognized that the
significant decline in the total number of patients registered is the reason for this.
Few studies from Italy have also reported similar results with no reported delay in
diagnosis and treatment.[10]
[14] A delay in treatment has been reported in India[15] and many countries due to reallocation of health resources toward care of COVID-19
patients.[6]
[16] There is growing concern that these delays would have an impact on oncological outcomes
in the years to come. The National Cancer Institute has predicted as many as 10,000
additional deaths during the next 10 years due to the delayed diagnosis of breast
and colorectal cancers in the United States as a result of the pandemic.[17] Since there was no significant delay in diagnosis and treatment for the patients
in this study, we expect similar outcomes as compared with the prepandemic period.
Fewer patients were referred elsewhere from our institution for commencing or continuation
of treatment in 2020 compared with 2019. This could be because of the decrease in
total number of breast cancer patients registered in 2020, and these patients were
mostly hailing from southern districts of Kerala and hence did not need to be referred
elsewhere.
There was no significant difference in the intent of treatment in either cohort. However,
significantly, more patients received neoadjuvant systemic therapy as surgical procedures
were delayed during the COVID-19 period. This has been reported in other studies as
well.[18] The number of patients undergoing BCS and mastectomy were similar in both cohorts
which is similar to that reported in other studies.[19]
[20] All patients who received adjuvant radiation were treated on hypofractionated 3-week
schedule which has been the standard practice at this institution for several years.
The limitations of the study are its retrospective nature and the inherent bias associated
with such a design. Another disadvantage is that clinical outcomes of patients were
not analyzed. The effect on patients who were unable to seek timely diagnosis and
treatment during the COVID-19 lockdown could not be assessed by this study. Such patients
may likely be the cause of significant decrease in breast cancer survival in the ensuing
years. Being a single institutional analysis, the results can be influenced by this
institution's practice patterns which could be different from other centers during
the pandemic.
Conclusion
This study did not show a negative impact from COVID-19 in terms of time to diagnosis
and treatment of newly diagnosed breast cancer reporting to this institution. It is
recognized that the significant decline in the total number of patients registered
is the reason for this. More patients received neoadjuvant systemic therapy as opposed
to primary surgery.
