Epidemiology and Health

COVID-19: Original Article

Changes in cancer screening before and during COVID‐19: findings from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey 2019 and 2020: Thao Thi Kim Trinh, Yun Yeong Lee, Mina Suh, Jae Kwan Jun, Kui Son Choi; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022051. Published online May 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022051

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected every aspect of medical care. However, information regarding the impact of the pandemic on cancer screening is lacking. This study aimed to explore cancer screening changes by geographic region before and during the pandemic in Korea.

METHODS

Korean National Cancer Screening Survey data for 2019 and 2020 were used. Changes in the screening rate before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were calculated by subtracting the rate in 2020 from the rate in 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined the differences in screening rates at the national and 16 provincial levels before and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

RESULTS

The 1-year screening rates for the four types of cancer decreased during the pandemic (stomach cancer: -5.1, colorectal cancer: -3.8, breast cancer: -2.5, cervical cancer: -1.5%p). In metropolitan areas, the odds of undergoing screening tests during the pandemic were significantly lower than before the pandemic for stomach (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56 to 0.76), colorectal (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.79), and breast cancers (aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.94). Furthermore, the likelihood of undergoing stomach cancer screening during the pandemic was significantly lower than before the pandemic in non-metropolitan urban areas (aOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.94), while it was higher in rural areas (aOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancer screening rate has decreased significantly, especially in large cities. Public health efforts are required to improve cancer screening rates.

Summary

Korean summary
• 코로나 대유행 이전과 이후의 최근 1년간 암검진 수검률을 비교한 결과, 위암 (5% 포인트), 대장암 (3.8% 포인트), 유방암 (2.5% 포인트), 자궁경부암 (1.5% 포인트) 수검률이 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였음 • 특히 위암, 대장암, 유방암의 경우 대도시 지역에서의 수검률이 현저하게 감소하였음

Key Message
The 1-year screening rates for stomach, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer decreased significantly during the pandemic in Korea, especially in large cities.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Mining Google Trends data for nowcasting and forecasting colorectal cancer (CRC) prevalence
Cristiana Tudor, Robert Aurelian Sova
PeerJ Computer Science.2023; 9: e1518. CrossRef

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