Abstract
Introduction
Cancer is a major social, public health, and economic challenge worldwide, accounting
for 1 in 6 deaths globally, according to Globocan 2022. Since the onset of the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a noticeable impact on the provision
of services to oncology patients. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of
the pandemic on access to healthcare services and disease staging at a specialized
oncology hospital located in the state of São Paulo.
Materials and Methods
Demographic, clinical, and access data were extracted from 3 electronic information
systems, comparing 3 periods: prepandemic (2018–2019), pandemic (2020–2021), and postrestriction
easing (2022 to June 2023). The results showed progression in the clinical stage of
patients referred to for treatment from the pandemic period onwards. In the prepandemic
period, approximately 9.4% of patients presented at clinical stage IV. During the
pandemic, this percentage increased to 15.4%, and in the postrestriction easing period,
it reached 17.8%.
Conclusion
Although access to effective oncological treatment was improved during the pandemic,
there was a noticeable progression in the clinical stage of the disease, which persisted
after the easing of restrictions.
Keywords
rectal neoplasm - access to health services - COVID-19 - staging - neoplasm - acess
to health services
Bibliographical Record
Guilherme da Costa Souza, Rossana Verónica Mendoza López, Pedro Henrique Shimiti Hashizume,
Edia Filomena Di Tullio Lopes, Hillegonda Maria Dutilh Novaes. Analysis of the Impact
of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Stage and Access to Oncology Services in Brazil
for the Treatment of Rectal Cancer. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21: s00451809931.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809931
