NUMERO: #20260182

Título: TIME INTERVALS FOR ORAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A REGIONAL STUDY

Nome do Apresentador: Sérgio Vitorino CARDOSO

Categoria do Trabalho: Pôster - Investigação Original (IO)

Área Temática: Estomatologia

Resumo: Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the time intervals for diagnosis and treatment of patients with oral cancer.

Study design: Patients with oral cancer diagnosed and treated between 2017 and 2023 at a regional referral center were categorized into three groups according to the year of diagnosis: pre-pandemic (2017-2019), pandemic (2020-2021), and post-pandemic (2022-2023). Data were retrospectively collected for analyses regarding patient, diagnostic and treatment intervals.

Results: A total of 63 patients were included, comprising 18 diagnosed in the pre-pandemic period, 15 during the pandemic, and 30 in the post-pandemic period. Patient interval was shorter in the pandemic period, whereas the treatment interval was extended in the post-pandemic period. The diagnostic interval did not vary during the pandemic.

Conclusion: Apparently, patients were more likely to seek professional attention for oral lesions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prioritizing care for patients with suspected or diagnosed oral cancer was essential to ensure diagnosis and access to treatment during the pandemic. Tertiary healthcare resources were insufficient to ensure timely oral cancer treatment post-pandemic, likely due to increased demand from other postponed care.

Financial support: Brazilian agencies CAPES (001); CNPq INCT Saúde Oral e Odontologia (406840/2022-9).

Autor 1:  Matheus Silva CLEMENTE

E-mail 1:  [email protected]

Autor 2:   Mirna Scalon CORDEIRO

E-mail 2:  [email protected]

Autor 3 :  Marcela Guimarães VALE

E-mail 3:  [email protected]

Autor 4:  João César Guimarães HENRIQUES

E-mail 4:  [email protected]

Autor 5:  Paulo Rogério de FARIA

E-mail 5:  [email protected]

Autor 6:  Sérgio Vitorino CARDOSO

E-mail 6:  [email protected]