Smesseim Illaa, Douma Li-Anne H, Burgers Jacobus A, Damhuis Ronald A M
Department of Thoracic Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 16;15(1):25677. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-10054-6.
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a lethal cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global health crisis, raising concerns about its impact on cancer diagnoses and treatments. In response to the immense pressures on the healthcare system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries advised prioritizing essential healthcare services while postponing or suspending care considered non-emergent to prevent overburdening healthcare systems. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence, treatment, and overall survival of PM patients in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2022. Data were collected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry for 2,629 PM patients. Incidence, treatment patterns, and survival rates were analyzed using statistical methods, including Kruskal-Wallis and log-rank tests. PM incidence dropped 13.2% in 2020 during the pandemic, with a 58.8% increase in patients receiving best supportive care and a decline in chemotherapy use (from 39.4% to 32.0%). In 2021, diagnoses rebounded (+ 15.2%), and immunotherapy use rose following its approval. However, no significant difference in overall survival was found between 2018 and 2022. COVID-19 led to a temporary decline in PM diagnoses and systemic treatments in 2020, followed by recovery in 2021. Despite these changes, overall survival rates remained stable.
胸膜间皮瘤（PM）是一种通常与接触石棉有关的致命癌症。新冠疫情引发了全球健康危机，人们对其对癌症诊断和治疗的影响感到担忧。为应对新冠疫情给医疗系统带来的巨大压力，许多国家建议优先提供基本医疗服务，同时推迟或暂停非紧急护理，以防止医疗系统不堪重负。本研究评估了2018年至2022年期间新冠疫情对荷兰PM患者的发病率、治疗和总生存率的影响。从荷兰癌症登记处收集了2629名PM患者的数据。使用包括Kruskal-Wallis和对数秩检验在内的统计方法分析发病率、治疗模式和生存率。2020年疫情期间，PM发病率下降了13.2%，接受最佳支持性治疗的患者增加了58.8%，化疗使用率下降（从39.4%降至32.0%）。2021年，诊断率反弹（+15.2%），免疫疗法在获批后使用增加。然而，2018年至2022年期间总生存率没有显著差异。新冠疫情导致2020年PM诊断和全身治疗暂时下降，随后在2021年恢复。尽管有这些变化，但总生存率保持稳定。
