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Oncology

Changes in Newly Identified Cancer Among US Patients From Before COVID-19 Through the First Full Year of the Pandemic

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article

1 Credit CME

JAMA Network Open

Published Online: August 31, 2021

Research Letter

Article Information and Disclosures

Harvey W. Kaufman, MD¹;

Zhen Chen, MS¹;

Justin K. Niles, MA¹;

Yuri A. Fesko, MD¹

Author Affiliations

¹Quest Diagnostics, Secaucus, New Jersey

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We previously reported a substantial decline in new cancer diagnosed early in the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. During the period from March 1 to April 18, 2020, weekly cases fell 46.4% (from 4310 to 2310) for 6 cancers combined, with significant declines for each type.¹ This was expected, given recommendations to conserve health care resources to address the initial set of patients with COVID-19. Medical practices have since reopened, but patient concerns remain. This study updates the analysis through March 2021.

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Article Information

Accepted for Publication: July 13, 2021.

Published: August 31, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25681

Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND License. © 2021 Kaufman HW et al. JAMA Network Open.

Corresponding Author: Harvey W. Kaufman, MD, Quest Diagnostics, 500 Plaza Dr, Secaucus, NJ 07094 (harvey.w.kaufman@questdiagnostics.com).

Author Contributions: Dr Kaufman and Ms Chen had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: All authors.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Kaufman, Chen, Niles.

Drafting of the manuscript: Kaufman, Chen.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Chen, Niles.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Kaufman, Fesko.

Supervision: Kaufman.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Drs Kaufman and Fesko and Ms Chen reported owning stock in Quest Diagnostics outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Additional Contributions: We appreciate the superb editorial support from Jeff Radcliff (Quest Diagnostics). He was not compensated beyond his usual salary.

References

Kaufman HW , Chen Z , Niles J , Fesko Y . Changes in the number of US patients with newly identified cancer before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2017267. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.17267 PubMed Google Scholar

von Elm E , Altman DG , Egger M , Pocock SJ , Gøtzsche PC , Vandenbroucke JP ; STROBE Initiative. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Ann Intern Med. 2007;147(8):573-577. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-147-8-200710160-00010 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Cavallo J . How delays in screening and early cancer diagnosis amid the COVID-19 pandemic may result in increased cancer mortality: a conversation with NCI Director Norman E. ‘Ned’ Sharpless, MD. The ASCO Post. September 10, 2020. Accessed April 22, 2021. https://ascopost.com/issues/september-10-2020/how-delays-in-screening-and-early-cancer-diagnosis-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic-may-result-in-increased-cancer-mortality/

AMA CME Accreditation Information

Credit Designation Statement: The American Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity activity for a maximum of 1.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;;
1.00 Self-Assessment points in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification program;
1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
1.00 Lifelong Learning points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program; and
1.00 CME points in the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuing Certification program

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.