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. 2023 Sep 28;23(1):913.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11441-w.

Short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with gastric cancer during versus before the COVID-19 pandemic: cohort study using propensity score matching method

Yong Sun  1 , Chao Chen  1 , Lei Hou  1 , Enhong Zhao  2
Affiliations

Short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with gastric cancer during versus before the COVID-19 pandemic: cohort study using propensity score matching method

Yong Sun et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: The negative effects of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patients with gastric cancer are poorly understood. This study was designed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of patients with gastric cancer in the same period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We retrospectively collected consecutive patients with definite diagnosis of gastric cancer at our center between 1 January and 30 June of 2019 (Before COVID-19) and 2020 (During COVID-19). A comparison was made between the number of patients and their characteristics before and during the COVID-19 epidemic. Propensity score matching (PSM) at 1:1 ratio was performed to evaluate the outcomes of patients that underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in two groups.

Result: The total number of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic increased by 21.4%, compared to that before the COVID-19 pandemic. AII the qualified patients were divided Before COVID-19 Pandemic group (BCP n = 99) and During COVID-19 Pandemic group (DCP n = 118). PSM yielded 81 patients with comparable baseline characteristics into each group. Compared to the BCP group, the DCP group had longer surgery time(P = 0.011), more blood loss(P = 0.015), longer postoperative hospital stay(P = 0.002). No statistical differences were observed in terms of type of resection, number of retrieved lymph nodes (LNs), pathology, short-term and long-term complications (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with gastric cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic had comparable short-term outcomes and long-term complications, but worse peri-operative outcomes, compared to that before the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to investigate long-term outcomes.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Gastric cancer; Long-term outcomes; Short-term outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart showing patient enrollment and PSM matching process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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