Abstract

Background

Beyond its direct consequences on the morbimortality, COVID-19 pandemic significantly influences the management of other chronic diseases, such as lung cancer.

Objective

To assess the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on hospital care pathways of lung cancer in term of median waiting time.

Method

This is a retrospective, single-center and cross-sectional study, conducted in Longjumeau Hospital. We compared the main median waiting times during patients hospital care pathways between the last 22 months before the start of the pandemic (from june 1st, 2018 to february 29, 2020) and the first 22 months of COVID-19 pandemic (from march 1st, 2020 to december 31, 2021) in France.

Results

152 patients were included in this study. Their mean age was 68.4±12.4 years. The male gender was more represented (63.8%) with a sex ratio M/F of 1.8. The median diagnosis time was 16 days [IQR,7-26] before versus 15 days [IQR,9-28] during the pandemic, p=0.63. The median waiting time to therapeutic decision was 5 days [IQR,2-10.25] before versus 6 days [IQR, 2-14] during the pandemic, p=0.57. Median global time was 35 days [IQR, 25.75-56] before versus 35.5 days [IQR, 22.75-56.5] during the pandemic, p=0.96. The median first treatment time was 7 days [IQR, 4-7] before versus 5 days [IQR,1-12] during the pandemic, p=0.30. The median care time was 39 days [IQR,26.5-59] before versus 37 days [IQR,23-59.25] during the pandemic, p=0.88.

Conclusion

This study does not show any significant difference in terms of care pathways of lung cancer between the periods before and the period during the COVID-19 pandemic in LONGJUMEAU hospital. All median waiting times were consistent with international recommendation.