From the Department of Oncology, (Al Zahrani, Ghorbel, Mukhtar), King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk; from the Department of Oncology, (Almajed, Abdelazim), Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh; from the Department of Oncology, (Hasan), Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif; and from the Department of Oncology, (Al Harbi, Ali Bajouda), King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2021 Dec;42(12):1272-1280. doi: 10.15537/smj.2021.42.12.20210483.
To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer management in Saudi Arabia's military hospitals.
This multi-centric, retrospective study compared cancer patients diagnosed from February-July 2019 and 2020, focusing on the time duration for acceptance and time for oncologic treatment initiation. Eligibility and referral status were recorded. Clinical data of COVID-19-positive cancer patients were collected and evaluated their outcomes and survival.
Data of 1574 cancer patients (mean age, 57.1 years) were collected. Mean time for acceptance was 7.3 days in 2019 and 8 days in 2020, with no statistically significant difference. Mean time for oncology treatment initiation was 38.4 days in 2019 and 44.3 days in 2020, with no statistically significant difference. The number of new cancer patients decreased in 2020 but increased in peripheral hospitals. It decreased in Riyadh and Jeddah hospitals. Concerning referral status, a statistically significant modification was recorded only in Riyadh and Tabuk hospitals. No significant changes observed in time duration for acceptance of new patients and oncology treatment initiation from 2019-2020. A total of 76 COVID-19-positive cancer patients recorded; 72% were symptomatic, 73.6% recovered, 22.3% died due to COVID-19 complications, and 8% died due to cancer; cancer progressed in 7 patients.
COVID-19 did not affect oncology service in Saudi Arabia's military hospitals. New cancer cases reduced during the pandemic. Cancer patients are at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, including death.
评估 COVID-19 对沙特阿拉伯军队医院癌症管理的影响。
本多中心回顾性研究比较了 2019 年 2 月至 7 月和 2020 年诊断的癌症患者，重点关注接受时间和肿瘤治疗开始时间。记录合格和转诊情况。收集 COVID-19 阳性癌症患者的临床数据并评估其结局和生存情况。
共收集了 1574 名癌症患者（平均年龄 57.1 岁）的数据。2019 年和 2020 年接受治疗的平均时间分别为 7.3 天和 8 天，无统计学差异。2019 年和 2020 年肿瘤治疗开始的平均时间分别为 38.4 天和 44.3 天，无统计学差异。2020 年新癌症患者数量减少，但外围医院增加。利雅得和吉达医院的数量减少。就转诊状况而言，仅在利雅得和塔布克医院记录到统计学上的显著改变。从 2019 年至 2020 年，新患者接受治疗的时间和肿瘤治疗开始时间无明显变化。共记录到 76 例 COVID-19 阳性癌症患者；72%有症状，73.6%康复，22.3%因 COVID-19 并发症死亡，8%因癌症死亡；7 例癌症进展。
COVID-19 并未影响沙特阿拉伯军队医院的肿瘤服务。大流行期间新癌症病例减少。癌症患者患 COVID-19 并发症（包括死亡）的风险增加。
