Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Medical Oncology Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To assess the degree of impact the pandemic had on the Oncology Department regarding patient visits and elective procedures.

Study Design: Comparative pre-post analysis study.

Place and Duration of Study: Medical Oncology Department of Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Oct to Dec 2019 before the pandemic, and then 2020 during the pandemic.

Methodology: Data was collected from the Department regarding the number of outpatient visits, indoor admissions, new cases diagnosed, chemotherapies administered, blood transfusions, and various procedures like lumbar puncture, ascitic fluid paracentesis, pleural fluid drainage, etc.

Results: Our study showed an overall decrease in all the study parameters. The average monthly Outpatient visits fell by 395 patients (55.6%). The new cases decreased by 25 patients (36.2%). The indoor admissions also came down by 17 patients (42.5%). Furthermore, the procedures performed in the Oncology department were also observed to have decreased.

Conclusion: Oncology has suffered dramatically in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer patients visiting the hospital for their consultations, follow-ups, as well as treatments. This has resulted in a delay in diagnosis and treatment and has had a severe adverse psychological impact on the patients.
Keywords: COVID-19, Elective procedures, Pandemic, Oncology.