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. 2021 Feb;53(2):166-170.
doi: 10.1055/a-1272-3788. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Netherlands: analysis of a prospective endoscopy database

Marten A Lantinga #  1 , Felix Theunissen #  2 , Pieter C J Ter Borg  3 , Marco J Bruno  2 , Rob J T Ouwendijk  4 , Peter D Siersema  1 ; Trans.IT foundation study group
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Netherlands: analysis of a prospective endoscopy database

Marten A Lantinga et al. Endoscopy. 2021 Feb.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has dramatically affected gastrointestinal endoscopy practice. We aimed to investigate its impact on procedure types, indications, and findings.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed endoscopies performed in 15 Dutch hospitals by comparing periods 15 March to 25 June of 2019 and 2020 using the prospective Trans.IT database.

Results: During lockdown in 2020, 9776 patients underwent endoscopy compared with 19 296 in 2019. Gastroscopies decreased by 57 % (from 7846 to 4467) and colonoscopies by 45 % (from 12219 to 5609), whereas endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography volumes remained comparable (from 578 to 522). Although endoscopy results indicative of cancer decreased (from 524 to 340), the likelihood of detecting cancer during endoscopy increased (2.7 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.5 - 3.0] in 2019 versus 3.5 % [95 %CI 3.1 - 3.9] in 2020; P < 0.001). After lifting of lockdown, endoscopy volumes started to return to normal, except for colorectal cancer screening.

Conclusions: Fewer endoscopies were performed during the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to a significant reduction in the absolute detection of cancer. Endoscopies increased rapidly after lockdown, except for colorectal cancer screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

Prof. Bruno is a consultant for and has received support for industry- and investigator-initiated studies from Boston Scientific and Cook Medical. He has also received support for investigator-initiated studies from Pentax Medical, Mylan, and ChiRoStim. Dr. Ouwendijk has received research grants from Janssen Netherlands, Olympus, and the Coolsingel Foundation. Prof. Siersema has received research grants from Norgine, Pentax, Microtech, Yakult, and Motus GI (ongoing), and is an advisory board member for Motus GI. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Absolute number of endoscopy results showing a suspicion of gastrointestinal cancer when comparing the period 15 March – 15 May of 2019 and 2020, stratified by type of cancer.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Volume of different gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (1 January – 25 June). Dashed lines correspond to initiation and partial release of Dutch national lockdown. ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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