Impact of COVID-19 crisis on medical care of patients with metastasized uro-oncologic disease under systemic cancer therapy: a multicenter study in German university hospitals

Abstract

Purpose To date, over 4.2 million Germans and over 235 million people worldwide have been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Uro-oncology (UO) patients are particularly vulnerable but in urgent need of life-saving systemic treatments. Our multicentric study examined the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the medical care of UO patients in German university hospitals receiving ongoing systemic anti-cancer treatment and to detect the delay of medical care, defined as deferred medical treatment or deviation of the pre-defined follow-up assessment. Methods Data of 162 UO patients with metastatic disease undergoing systemic cancer treatment at five university hospitals in Germany were included in our analyses. The focus of interest was any delay or change in treatment between February 2020 and May 2020 (first wave of the COVID-19 crisis in Germany). Statistical analysis of contingency tables were performed using Pearson’s chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests, respectively. Effect size was determined using Cramér’s V (V). Results Twenty-four of the 162 patients (14.8%) experienced a delay in systemic treatment of more than 2 weeks. Most of these received immuno-oncologic (IO) treatments (13/24, 54.2%, p = 0.746). Blood tests were delayed or canceled significantly more often in IO patients but with a small effect size (21.1%, p = 0.042, V = 0.230). Treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (12/73, 16.4%) and urothelial carcinoma (7/32, 21.9%) was affected the most. Conclusions Our data show that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the medical care of UO patients, but deferment remained modest. There was a tendency towards delays in IO and ADT treatments in particular.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncological care in Germany: rapid review

“…1 ). These included 59 peer-reviewed studies (Arndt et al 2022 ; Balakirski et al 2022 ; Balk et al 2022 ; Bartella et al 2021 ; Beller et al 2022 ; Bollmann et al 2021 ; Brunner et al 2020 ; Buntzel et al 2020 , 2021 ; Dienemann et al 2021 ; Diers et al 2021 , 2022 ; Donath et al 2021 ; Eckford et al 2021 ; Erdmann et al 2021 , 2022 ; Fauser et al 2022 ; Gremke et al 2022 ; Griewing et al 2022a , b ; Gschnell et al 2021 ; Haier et al 2022a , b , c ; Hajek et al 2021 ; Harke et al 2020 , 2022 ; Heimes et al 2021 ; Holzel et al 2022 ; Hunger et al 2022 ; Jacob et al 2021 , 2022 ; Jördens et al 2021 ; Justenhoven and Rieger 2022 ; Kaltofen et al 2022 ; Kapsner et al 2020 ; Kirchberg et al 2021 ; Kleemann et al 2022 ; Kourtidis et al 2022 ; Kuhlen et al 2020 ; Matuschek et al 2020 ; Medenwald et al 2022 ; Micek et al 2022 ; Michalowsky et al 2021 ; Piontek et al 2021 ; Reichardt et al 2021 ; Riemann et al 2021 ; Rupa et al 2020 ; Schuz et al 2022 ; Stang et al 2020 ; Stos et al 2020 ; Struck et al 2022 ; Teuscher et al 2022 ; Voigtlander et al 2021 ; Vu et al 2022 ; Walter et al 2021 , ...…”

Organizational issues of surgical treatment of urological and andrological patients in the conditions of COVID-19: literature review

“…После окончания кризиса, вызванного COVID-19, системам здравоохранения придется разработать стратегии, чтобы наверстать упущенное. Учитывая аналогичные темпы снижения нормальной активности по сравнению с тем, что наблюдалось в марте 2020 г., специалисты попытались оценить медицинские возможности, которые потребуются для того, чтобы справиться с онкоурологическими вмешательствами, отложенными в связи с пандемией [53].…”

Identification of berberine as a potential therapeutic strategy for kidney clear cell carcinoma and COVID-19 based on analysis of large-scale datasets

“…Furthermore, following COVID-19 infection, KIRC patients experience severe complications and elevated mortality risk ( 19 ). Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic delays medical care for KIRC patients ( 20 ).KIRC patients have a higher risk of infection and may develop fatal complications and higher mortality from COVID-19.…”