loading page

Cervical Cancer and COVID: A collaborative assessment of the effect of the COVID pandemic on the presentation of Cervical cancer in the North of England
  • +17
  • Jennifer Davies,
  • Alice Spencer,
  • Sian Macdonald,
  • Lucy Dobson,
  • Emily Haydock,
  • Holly Burton,
  • Georgios Angelopoulos,
  • Pierre Martin-Hirsch,
  • Nicholas Wood,
  • Richard Edmondson,
  • Amudha Thangavelu,
  • Richard Hutson,
  • Sarika Munot,
  • Marina Flynn,
  • Katelijn Sap,
  • Michael Smith,
  • Eva Myriokefalitaki,
  • Brett Winter-Roach,
  • Bridget Decruze,
  • Robert MacDonald
Jennifer Davies
Liverpool Women's Crown Street Hospital

Corresponding Author:jen.davies89@doctors.org.uk

Author Profile
Alice Spencer
Liverpool Women's Crown Street Hospital
Author Profile
Sian Macdonald
Liverpool Women's Crown Street Hospital
Author Profile
Lucy Dobson
Liverpool Women's Crown Street Hospital
Author Profile
Emily Haydock
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Holly Burton
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Georgios Angelopoulos
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Pierre Martin-Hirsch
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Nicholas Wood
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Richard Edmondson
The University of Manchester
Author Profile
Amudha Thangavelu
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Author Profile
Richard Hutson
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Author Profile
Sarika Munot
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Author Profile
Marina Flynn
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Author Profile
Katelijn Sap
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Michael Smith
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Eva Myriokefalitaki
Christie Hospital
Author Profile
Brett Winter-Roach
Christie Hospital
Author Profile
Bridget Decruze
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Robert MacDonald
Liverpool Women's Crown Street Hospital
Author Profile

Abstract

Objective: To review the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation of Cervical cancer. Design/ Setting: Retrospective study involving the Regional Cancer Centres in the M62 Group. Methods: Data was collected for two equal time periods. All cervical cancers were included and FIGO 2018 staging was used for the data collection. P values were calculated using binomial hypothesis test for the difference in staging. Time from symptoms to diagnosis was assessed using a normal distribution test. All other calculations were performed using chi-squared test. Statistical significance was considered if p values were <0.05. Main outcome measures: Histology, stage at diagnosis, date of onset of symptoms, investigation and type of treatment. Results: A total of 406 cases of cervical cancer were reviewed; 233 from May – October 2019 (pre-COVID) and 173 between May – October 2020 (post COVID); representing a significant reduction in new cervical cancer diagnoses of 25% post COVID (p<0.001) There was a 42% increase in the delay from start of symptoms to diagnosis Post COVID. Pre COVID, 27% of patients presented with Stage 3 or 4 disease, whilst during COVID this was 38%; statistically significant (p <0.001). When we evaluated the treatments received between the two time periods, this was also statistically significant (chi-squared, p=0.0005). Conclusions: This study has demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the stage of cervical cancer at diagnosis and a change in treatment for cervical cancer following the onset of COVID-19. The implications of this are discussed.
14 Jun 2021Submitted to BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
09 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
30 Oct 20211st Revision Received
08 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
08 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
08 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Nov 20212nd Revision Received
27 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
27 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
27 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Accept