Changes in the number of cancer diagnosis practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic: interrupted time-series analysis using the National Database of Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

This study aimed to reveal the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the number of practices commonly used for cancer diagnosis in Japan.

Methods

The sampling dataset of the National Database of Japan from January 2015 to January 2021 was used to generate 25-point time-series data for the number of practices (21 points before and 4 points during the pandemic outbreak). The decreased number was estimated by interrupted time-series analysis using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model. Using the pre-pandemic data, expected counterfactual numbers during the pandemic were predicted, and decreased rate was calculated.

Results

In most practices, the number dramatically decreased in the early stage of the pandemic and recovered rapidly thereafter.

SUBMITTER: Fujita M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9838522 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature