The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays and disruptions in cancer care services: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shah R 1 , Hanna NM 2 , Loo CE 3 , David M 4 , Mafra A 5 , Fink H 6 Show all authors , McFerran E 7 , Garcia M 8 , Ghodssighassemabadi R 6 , Acharya S 9 , Niyibaga J 6 , Langselius O 6 , Frick C 6 , Lasebikan N 10 , Vignat J 6 , Steinberg J 4 , Hughes S 4 , Kircher CE 11 , Goldie CL 11 , Egger S 4 , Sullivan R 12 , Ginsburg O 13 , Bray F 6 , Caruana M 4 , Hui H 4 , Ilbawi AM 14 , Canfell K 15 , Soerjomataram I 6

Affiliations 

  • 1 Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. shahr@iarc.who.int
  • 2 Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • 3 Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 5 Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Team, Public Health Expertise, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
  • 6 Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
  • 7 Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
  • 8 Cancer Screening Unit, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Early Detection of Cancer Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
  • 9 Assam Cancer Care Foundation, Assam, India
  • 10 Oncology Center, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
  • 11 Queen's University School of Nursing, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • 12 King's College London, Institute of Cancer Policy, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
  • 13 Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
  • 14 Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 15 School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nat Cancer, 2025 Jan;6(1):194-204.
PMID: 39747650 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00880-4

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic substantially impacted the delivery of cancer services and programs. Here we reviewed and synthesized the global scale and impact of pandemic-related delays and disruptions on cancer services, including diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, screening, treatment and supportive and palliative care. Based on data from 245 articles in 46 countries, we observed declines in the number of cancer screening participation (39.0%), diagnoses (23.0%), diagnostic procedures (24.0%) and treatment (28.0%), ranging from a 15.0% decline for radiotherapy to a 35.0% decline for systemic treatment during the pandemic compared to during the prepandemic period. Medium-human development index (HDI) category countries experienced greater reductions than high- and very-high-HDI countries. Missing data from low-HDI countries emphasize the need for increased investments in cancer surveillance and research in these settings. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022301816.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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