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In this study, investigators explored the perception that cancer screening tests are being deferred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, researchers looked at rates for mammography, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, colonoscopy, Pap smear, and low-dose computed tomography during four 3-month periods: March to May 2019, December 2019 to Feb 2020 (prepandemic period), March to May 2020 (peak pandemic period), and June to August 2020 (postpeak period).
The total number of screening tests conducted in the peak pandemic period was 15,000, compared with 60,000 in March to May 2019, 64,000 in the prepandemic period, and 52,000 in the postpeak period. The incidence of positive tests was higher in the peak pandemic period than in the other three periods (e.g., 4% of mammograms were positive for cancer in the peak pandemic period, compared with 1.9%–2.3% in the other periods).
Bakouny Z et al. Cancer screening tests and cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Oncol 2021 Jan 14; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.7600)
Comment
These single-center results likely can be generalized to other U.S. health systems. The frequency of testing recovered quickly in the postpeak period, reflecting restoration of at least some routine care after the initial shutdown in many hospitals. Patients selected for testing during the peak pandemic period had a higher rate of positive results, suggesting that not as many diagnoses were “missed” during this period as might have been expected.