Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during Spain's state of emergency on the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Abstract

Introduction: We evaluate the impact of COVID-epidemic in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis during Spain's state of emergency.

Methods: We compared newly diagnosed patients with patients diagnosed in the same period of 2019.

Results: A new diagnosis of CRC decreased 48% with a higher rate of patients diagnosed in the emergency setting (12.1% vs. 3.6%; p = .048) and a lower rate diagnosed in the screening program (5.2% vs. 33.3%; p = .000).

Conclusions: Fewer patients have been diagnosed with CRC, with a higher rate of patients diagnosed in an emergency setting.

Keywords: COVID-19; colorectal cancer; colorectal cancer diagnosis; multidisciplinary team.