Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on referral practices for pediatric central nervous system tumors: A Danish National Comparative Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prolonged Diagnostic Interval (DI)s pose a challenge in childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered contact with healthcare. The aim of this study was to describe DIs in children diagnosed with a CNS tumor in Denmark during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

We performed a retrospective questionnaire study, mapping time intervals and symptoms in the diagnostic pathway. We analyzed DIs measured in days and performed descriptive analyses of symptoms and contacts with health care professionals (HCP). Comparison to a pre-COVID cohort was applied. Intervals were presented as total diagnostic interval (TDI; time from symptom onset to diagnosis); Patient Interval (PI; time from symptom onset to first contac

SUBMITTER: Weile KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508746 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature