@article{Zuluaga_Luna_Jurado_Soto-Cala_Solano_Sánchez-Forero_Murillo_2023, title={The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the oncology services demand in a middle-income setting with universal health insurance}, volume={53}, url={https://colombiamedica.univalle.edu.co/index.php/comedica/article/view/5115}, DOI={10.25100/cm.v53i1.5115}, abstractNote={<p><strong><u>Aim:</u></strong></p> <p>We analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oncology service demand in a middle-income country with universal health coverage.</p> <p><strong><u>Methods:</u></strong></p> <p>We collected data from January 1<sup>st</sup>-2017, to December 31<sup>th</sup>-2021 at a reference center in Bogotá-Colombia regarding first-time consultations of cross-cutting services (clinical oncology, hematology, palliative care, radiation oncology); specialized multidisciplinary units (breast, prostate, lung, stomach); inpatient and outpatient systemic therapy; radiotherapy; oncology surgery; and bone marrow transplant. In addition, a descriptive time series analysis was performed, estimating monthly percent change and endemic channels.</p> <p><strong><u>Results:</u></strong></p> <p>Starting the confinement (April 2020), a general decrease in service demand was observed (R: -14.9% to -90.0%), with an additional but lower reduction in August 2020 coinciding with the first pandemic wave (R: -11.3% to -70.0%). Follow-up visits and ambulatory treatment showed no consistent reductions. New patients’ consultations for cross-cutting services had a speedy recovery (1 month), but clinical oncology, specialized units, and in-hospital treatment resumed more slowly. Only breast and stomach cancer showed a sustained reduction in early-stage disease. Women and older patients had a more significant reduction in service demand.</p> <p><strong><u>Conclusion:</u></strong></p> <p>Despite no changes in service supply, the confinement induced a significant reduction in service demand. Variations by cancer type, service type, and population demographics deserve careful consideration for a suitable response to the emergency. The speedy recovery and the absence of a significant decrease during subsequent waves of the pandemic suggest patient resiliency and a lower impact than expected in middle-income settings in the presence of universal health insurance.</p>}, number={1}, journal={Colombia Medica}, author={Zuluaga, Maria and Luna, Maria Camila and Jurado, Natallie and Soto-Cala, Beatriz and Solano, Julio César and Sánchez-Forero, Ricardo and Murillo, Raúl}, year={2023}, month={May}, pages={e2065115} }