OncClubAll Oncology NewsPipeline Report
InsightsMedical World NewsOncChatsOncLive News Network®OncLive TVPeer ExchangePodcastsRapid ReadoutsThe Talk
Conference CoverageConference Listing
Giants of Cancer CarePER EventsScientific InterchangesState of the Science Summit / IPCWebinars
Partners
Oncology Live®Oncology FellowsSupplements And Featured PublicationsAll Publications
CME/CE
Biomarker ConsortiumInteractive ToolsLearning ModulesPresentationsSponsored
Print SubscriptioneNewsletter
Biosimilars
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Business Management
CAR T-cell Therapy
COVID-19
Disparities in Cancer Care
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Global Oncology
Gynecologic OncologyGynecologic Oncology
Head & Neck Cancers
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
Immuno-OncologyImmuno-OncologyImmuno-OncologyImmuno-Oncology
Lung Cancer
Melanoma & Skin Cancer
Oncology Nursing News
Pediatric Oncology
Precision Medicine in Oncology®Precision Medicine in Oncology®
Sarcomas/TGCT
Supportive Care
Spotlight -
  • REGISTER TODAY to explore data on a novel second-generation BTK inhibitor for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
  • Share your views with OncChats
Biosimilars
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Business Management
CAR T-cell Therapy
COVID-19
Disparities in Cancer Care
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Global Oncology
Gynecologic OncologyGynecologic Oncology
Head & Neck Cancers
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
Immuno-OncologyImmuno-OncologyImmuno-OncologyImmuno-Oncology
Lung Cancer
Melanoma & Skin Cancer
Oncology Nursing News
Pediatric Oncology
Precision Medicine in Oncology®Precision Medicine in Oncology®
Sarcomas/TGCT
Supportive Care
    • Partners
    • CME/CE
Advertisement

Survey Aims to Identify COVID-19–Related Health Care Challenges in Latin America

Aug 4, 2020
Carolina Bernabe, MD
Ava Velazquez Mañana, MD
  • Coral Olazagasti, MD
  • Narjust Duma, MD

Article

Outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 are on the rise in Latin America, with more than 4 million confirmed cases. In response to this health crisis, elective medical procedures, including cancer screening and care, as well as treatment for conditions beyond the virus, have been held.

Carolina Bernabe, MD

Outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are on the rise in Latin America, with more than 4 million confirmed cases. In response to this health crisis, elective medical procedures, including cancer screening and care, as well as treatment for conditions beyond the virus, have been held.1,2

Procedures that may not be considered elective are also being postponed, and patients are now being diagnosed with more advanced cancer, which in many cases are at incurable stages. For 2018, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimated 1.4 million new cancer cases in Latin America with more than 600,000 cancer deaths. It is projected that by 2040, cancer cases will increase by 91.4% in Central and South America.3 Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic procedures, research activities, and treatment plans have been disrupted; the clinical implications of these changes are still unknown.

Despite the measures implemented by some Latin American governments, the number of cases continues to climb. Some presumed reasons for this include lapses in social distancing implementation, in addition to crowded living conditions in urban areas. To date, 2.35 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed in Brazil, with over 85,000 deaths.4 Similarly, 378,000 positive cases have been reported in Mexico with over 42,000 deaths, and over 234,000 cases in Colombia with reports of 7,975 deaths. Notably, experts warn that the peak hasn’t been reached yet in that region.

As of May 2020, Central and South America were considered to be the new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinics and medical offices have been forced to close, raising concerns that healthcare systems could collapse, as has already happened in countries such as Ecuador. In March 2020, many European governments suspended breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening programs.5 In the United States, cancer screening programs were considered to be low priority.6 Although these practice changes are reasonable in light of this crisis, the negative impact could directly affect mortality in patients with cancer. Among Latinos, the cancer screening rate is already low, and COVID-19 may significantly worsen this situation.

In a national population-based modelling study done in the United Kingdom, investigators used linked National Health Service cancer registrations and hospital administrative datasets to estimate how the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the diagnosis of cancer during lockdown measures. Compared with pre-pandemic figures, the authors estimate an 8% to 10% increase in the number of deaths due to breast cancer. It is estimated that for colorectal cancer, the number will increase from 1,445 to 1,563 additional deaths, and for lung cancer, additional deaths will jump from 1,235 to 1,372, a 4.8% to 5.3% percentage increase, respectively.7

We have seen the severity of the impact of the pandemic on the United States. Despite clear data demonstrating the higher impact of COVID-19 in the Latino community, the effects of this virus in patients with cancer who live in Latin American countries is not well reported. Our study will focus on the effects of COVID-19 in oncology practices in Latin America. Data from the United Kingdom suggested that new cancer referrals decreased significantly due to concerns of contracting COVID-19; surgeries were delayed for more than 3 months across all stages of cancer and new chemotherapy practices were adopted by oncologists to avoid disruptions in cancer care.8 Our goal is to determine the extent of which the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the care of patients with cancer in Latin America.

Understanding how the care of patients with cancer in Latin America has adapted during these unprecedented times, and the specific challenges experienced by providers caring for these patients, is essential to understand current limitations and disruptions in resource-limited healthcare systems. This survey will serve as an opportunity for hematologists/oncologists to share their perspectives on how COVID-19 has affected their communities.

The survey will take 10 minutes to answer and will be anonymous. These insights will hopefully guide future emergency preparedness plans on how to best deliver cancer care during a pandemic in low-income countries, and avoid cancer deaths due to lack of screening, surgeries, or availability of chemotherapy.

References

  1. Horton J. Coronavirus: what are the numbers out of Latin America? BBC News. July 31, 2020. Accessed August 4, 2020. https://bbc.in/2DBbdo2.
  2. Richards, M, Anderson, M, Carter, P, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care. Nat Cancer. 2020;1:565-567. doi:10.1038/s43018-020-0074-y
  3. Latin America and the Caribbean facts sheet. World Health Organization. March 2020. Accessed August 4, 2020. https://bit.ly/2ENQLB3.
  4. Andreoni M. Coronavirus in Brazil: what you need to know. New York Times. August 3, 2020. Accessed August 4, 2020. https://nyti.ms/3fu0s4m.
  5. Resuming bowel cancer screening post-COVID-19. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5(8):711. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30200-4
  6. Gorin SS, Heck JE. Cancer screening among Latino subgroups in the United States. Prev Med. 2005;40(5):515-526. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.09.031
  7. Maringe C, Spicer J, Morris M, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer deaths due to delays in diagnosis in England, UK: a national, population-based, modelling study. Lancet Oncol. Published online on July 20, 2020. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30388-0
  8. Sud, A, Jones ME, Broggio J, et al. Collateral damage: the impact on outcomes from cancer surgery of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(8):1065-1074. doi:10.1016/j,annonc.2020.05.009
Related Videos
Muhammad Bilal Abid, MD, MRCP
M. Patricia Rivera, MD
Andrea Borondy Kitts
Jacob Sands, MD
Sandip Patel, MD
James L. Mulshine, MD
Zev A. Wainberg, MD, of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chris Labaki, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Quoc-Dien Trinh, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Renold Capocasale, CEO and founder of FlowMetric, and Grant Morgan, PhD, PMP
Related Content

Decentralization Efforts Could Engage Community Oncologists

May 9th 2023

Jefferson Faculty Highlight COVID-19-Induced Disparities in Older Patients With Cancer

June 6th 2022

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Decreases With Ruxolitinib Use in MPNs

March 9th 2023

Abid Accounts for the Efficacy of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Among Transplant, CAR T-Cell, and BiTE Recipients

June 2nd 2022

In the Trenches With the Fellows

July 8th 2022

Close Monitoring Recommended Despite Reduced Risk of COVID-19 Mortality in CLL

May 29th 2022

Decentralization Efforts Could Engage Community Oncologists

May 9th 2023

Jefferson Faculty Highlight COVID-19-Induced Disparities in Older Patients With Cancer

June 6th 2022

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Decreases With Ruxolitinib Use in MPNs

March 9th 2023

Abid Accounts for the Efficacy of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Among Transplant, CAR T-Cell, and BiTE Recipients

June 2nd 2022

In the Trenches With the Fellows

July 8th 2022

Close Monitoring Recommended Despite Reduced Risk of COVID-19 Mortality in CLL

May 29th 2022

Decentralization Efforts Could Engage Community Oncologists

May 9th 2023

Jefferson Faculty Highlight COVID-19-Induced Disparities in Older Patients With Cancer

June 6th 2022

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Decreases With Ruxolitinib Use in MPNs

March 9th 2023

Abid Accounts for the Efficacy of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Among Transplant, CAR T-Cell, and BiTE Recipients

June 2nd 2022

In the Trenches With the Fellows

July 8th 2022

Close Monitoring Recommended Despite Reduced Risk of COVID-19 Mortality in CLL

May 29th 2022
Related Content
Advertisement
Paul G. Kluetz, MD

Decentralization Efforts Could Engage Community Oncologists

May 9th 2023
Article
Jefferson Faculty Highlight COVID-19-Induced Disparities in Older Patients With Cancer

Jefferson Faculty Highlight COVID-19-Induced Disparities in Older Patients With Cancer

June 6th 2022
Podcast
Giuseppe A. Palumbo, MD, PhD

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Decreases With Ruxolitinib Use in MPNs

March 9th 2023
Article
Abid Accounts for the Efficacy of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Among Transplant, CAR T-Cell, and BiTE Recipients

Abid Accounts for the Efficacy of a Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Among Transplant, CAR T-Cell, and BiTE Recipients

June 2nd 2022
Podcast
Mili Arora, MD

In the Trenches With the Fellows

July 8th 2022
Article
Carsten Niemann, MD, PhD, of Rigshospitalet

Close Monitoring Recommended Despite Reduced Risk of COVID-19 Mortality in CLL

May 29th 2022
Article

Latest Conference Coverage

Smoldering Multiple Myeloma Management Hinges on the Debate Between Treatment and Observation

Lung Responses to Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Linked With OS in HCC and Pulmonary Metastasis

Second-Line Regorafenib Demonstrates Safety in Advanced HCC, Irrespective of Prior Treatment

First-line Toripalimab Plus Sorafenib Elicits Responses in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

View More Latest Conference Coverage
Advertise
About OncLive
Editorial Board
CancerNetwork.com
CGTlive.com
CureToday.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Contact Us
Privacy
Terms & Conditions
Do Not Sell My Information
Contact Info

2 Clarke Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.
Home
About Us
News
Contact