Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient visit volume in cancer patients: Results of COMETA multicenter retrospective observational study

Vincenza Frisardi; Oronzo Brunetti; Vincenza Abbinante; Marco Ardigò; Giuseppina Caolo; Annunziata Di Turi; Alessandra Torsello; Christian Napoli; Rita Mancini; Valeria Belleudi; Antonio Addis; Ornella Di Bella; Gennaro Ciliberto; Antonino Neri; Romina Corsini; Patrizia Ruggieri; Chiara Pollorsi; Nicola Silvestris

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1077103

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient visit volume in cancer patients: Results of COMETA multicenter retrospective observational study

Front Public Health. 2023 Feb 14:11:1077103. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1077103. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Vincenza Frisardi¹, Oronzo Brunetti², Vincenza Abbinante², Marco Ardigò³, Giuseppina Caolo⁴, Annunziata Di Turi⁴, Alessandra Torsello⁵, Christian Napoli⁵, Rita Mancini⁵, Valeria Belleudi⁶, Antonio Addis⁶, Ornella Di Bella⁴, Gennaro Ciliberto⁴, Antonino Neri⁷, Romina Corsini⁷, Patrizia Ruggieri⁷, Chiara Pollorsi¹, Nicola Silvestris⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuromotor Diseases, Geriatric Unit, AUSL IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
² Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, IRCCS, Bari, Italy.
³ San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁴ National Cancer Institute Regina Elena, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Sapienza University of Rome, Saint'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Lazio, Italy.
⁶ Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Scientific Directorate, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
⁸ Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first and follow-up visits for cancer outpatients.

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective observational study involving three Comprehensive Cancer Care Centers (CCCCs): IFO, including IRE and ISG in Rome, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, and IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II in Bari) and one oncology department in a Community Hospital (Saint'Andrea Hospital, Rome). From 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, we evaluated the volume of outpatient consultations (first visits and follow-up), comparing them with the pre-pandemic year (2019). Results were analyzed by quarter according to the Rt (real-time indicator used to assess the evolution of the pandemic). IFO and IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II were "COVID-free" while AUSL-IRCCS RE was a "COVID-mixed" Institute. Depending on the Rt, Sain't Andrea Hospital experienced a "swinging" organizational pathway (COVID-free/ COVID-mixed).

Results: Regarding the "first appointments", in 2020 the healthcare facilities operating in the North and Center of Italy showed a downward trend. In 2021, only AUSL-IRCCS RE showed an upward trend. Regarding the "follow-up", only AUSL IRCCS RE showed a slight up-trend in 2020. In 2021, IFO showed an increasing trend, while S. Andrea Hospital showed a negative plateau. Surprisingly, IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II in Bari showed an uptrend for both first appointment and follow-ups during pandemic and late pandemic except for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Conclusions: During the first pandemic wave, no significant difference was observed amongst COVID-free and COVID-mixed Institutes and between CCCCs and a Community Hospital. In 2021 ("late pandemic year"), it has been more convenient to organize COVID-mixed pathway in the CCCCs rather than to keep the Institutions COVID-free. A swinging modality in the Community Hospital did not offer positive results in term of visit volumes. Our study about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on visit volume in cancer outpatients may help health systems to optimize the post-pandemic use of resources and improve healthcare policies.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer care facilities; clinic activity; healthcare research; oncology service; outpatients.

Publication types

Observational Study
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Health Policy
Hospitals, Community
Humans
Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Outpatients
Pandemics

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai (8 PER MILLE) and Funds Ricerca Corrente Annual Program 2023 from Italian Ministry of Health.