Publication date: Oct 30, 2024
The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) care is unclear. This study reports on HCC patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Patients diagnosed with HCC between 2017 and 2020 were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registration. Monthly incidence rates were compared between 2020 and 2017-2019. Patient, tumor, process, and treatment characteristics and survival were compared between 2020 and 2017-2019, and between COVID-high (April and May 2020) and COVID-low (June and July 2020) months. The incidence of HCC was lower in May 2020 (IRR 0. 56, P = 0. 001) and higher in June 2020 (IRR 1. 32, P = 0. 05) compared to the same months in 2017-2019. In 2017-2019, 2134 patients presented with HCC, compared to 660 in 2020. Time-to-treatment was shorter in 2020 (median 60 vs. 70 days, P < 0. 001). The percentage of patients undergoing any treatment did not differ, yet if treatment was not performed this was more commonly due to comorbidity in 2020 (52 vs. 39%, P < 0. 001). No other differences were found in patient, tumor, process and treatment characteristics and survival between COVID-high and COVID-low months. This study demonstrated no impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HCC patients, despite a decrease in HCC diagnoses.
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| pathway | KEGG | Hepatocellular carcinoma |
| disease | MESH | Cancer |
| disease | IDO | process |
| disease | MESH | comorbidity |
| disease | MESH | coronavirus infections |
| disease | MESH | Liver Neoplasms |