FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF COLORECTAL CANCER OUTCOMES ritabaraujo@gmail.com

 

FIVE YEARS AFTER THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF COLORECTAL CANCER OUTCOMES

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Portugal

Poster with Discussion

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems worldwide, leading to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on colorectal cancer (CRC) presentation and outcomes, by evaluating pathologic staging and survival indicators in patients operated on during the COVID-19 period.

We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing surgery for CRC at our institution during two 14-month periods: pre-pandemic (January 2019–March 2020) and pandemic (March 2020–May 2021). Demographics, pathological stage (TNM), elective/emergent presentation, and oncologic outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes were the proportion of advanced-stage disease (Stage III–IV) and emergency presentations. Secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

A total of 232 patients were included: pre-pandemic (n = 128) and pandemic (n = 104). The proportion of urgent surgeries was higher during the pandemic (17.3% vs 11.7%), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.32). Primary tumor (pT) T4 was also higher in the pandemic group (21% vs 11%). Follow-up for the pandemic cohort is ongoing and not yet mature. Full comparative results, including rate of advanced-stage disease (Stage III–IV), five-year OS and DFS will be presented at the meeting.

Preliminary observations suggest that patients operated on during the pandemic presented more frequently with advanced disease and emergency presentations. Final survival comparisons await full follow-up maturity for the pandemic cohort. These findings underscore the importance of safeguarding timely cancer care delivery during global health crises.