Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of primary cutaneous melanomas in New South Wales, Australia: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused upheaval of healthcare systems, with evolving consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on melanoma diagnosis and management in New South Wales, Australia.

Method: In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed all new melanomas diagnosed at a tertiary care hospital over a three-year period. We compared outcomes between pre-pandemic (1 January 2019 - 30 March 2020) and pandemic (31 March 2020 - 31 December 2021) periods.

Results: A total of 426 melanomas were included. No significant differences in patient demographics, Breslow thickness, ulceration, subtype or lymph node positivity were observed. During the pandemic, there was an 11% decrease in the number of melanomas diagnosed in the community (P=0.016) and an 11-day reduction in time from referral to wide local excision (P=0.013).

Discussion: The prioritisation of melanoma care during the pandemic in New South Wales, Australia, has resulted in no apparent diagnostic delays.