Collateral effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on lung cancer diagnosis in Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is predicted to significantly affect patients with lung cancer, owing to its rapid progression and high mortality. Studies on lung cancer diagnosis and treatment during an epidemic are lacking. We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer diagnosis in Korea, where lung cancer incidence continues to rise.

Methods

The number of newly diagnosed lung cancer cases in three university-affiliated hospitals during the pandemic and their clinical features were compared with lung cancer cases diagnosed during the same period in the past 3 years. The effectiveness of measures taken by the study hospitals to prevent nosocomial transmission was reviewed.

Results

A total of 612 patients were diagnosed with lung cancer from February through June

SUBMITTER: Park JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7594984 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature