The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiotherapy services in England, UK: a population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer outcomes is of increasing concern. However, the extent to which key treatment modalities have been affected is unclear. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on radiotherapy activity in England.

Methods

In this population-based study, data relating to all radiotherapy delivered for cancer in the English NHS, between Feb 4, 2019, and June 28, 2020, were extracted from the National Radiotherapy Dataset. Changes in mean weekly radiotherapy courses, attendances (reflecting fractions), and fractionation patterns following the start of the UK lockdown were compared with corresponding months in 2019 overall, for specific diagnoses, and across age groups. The significance of changes in radiotherapy activity du

SUBMITTER: Spencer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7825861 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature