Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer death locations in Japan: an analysis up to February 2023 on excess mortality.

ABSTRACT: IntroductionThe Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted end-of-life decisions for cancer patients in Japan, with disparities existing between preferred and actual care settings. Our study investigates the potential shifts in cancer death locations during the pandemic and if there were excess cancer deaths.MethodsUtilizing national mortality data from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare from January 2012 to February 2023, we identified cancer deaths using ICD-10 codes. We assessed death locations, including medical institutions, nursing facilities, and homes. The Farrington algorithm was employed to estimate expected death counts, and the differences between observed and expected counts were denoted as excess deaths.ResultsFrom January 2018 to February 2023, there was consisten

SUBMITTER: Nomura S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11167266 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature