Melbourne colorectal collaboration: a multicentre review of the impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer in Melbourne, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise, healthcare workers have been working overtime to ensure that all patients receive care in a timely manner. Our study aims to identify the impact and outcomes of COVID-19 on colorectal cancers presentations across the five major colorectal units in Melbourne, Australia. METHOD(S): This is a retrospective study from a prospectively collected database from the binational colorectal cancer audit (BCCA) registry, as well as inpatient records. All patients with colorectal cancer between Pre-COVID-19 period (1 July 2018-2030 June 2019) and COVID-19 period (1 July 2020-2030 June 2021) were compared. Benign pathology and other cancer types were excluded. RESULT(S): A total of 1609 patients were included in the study (700 Pre-COVID-19 period, 906 COVID-19 period). During COVID-19 period, there was a higher proportion of emergency surgery (28.1% vs. 19.8%; P <0.001), a higher nodal (P =0.024) and metastatic stage (P =0.018) at presentation, but no increase in the rate of return to operating theatres (P =0.240), inpatient death (P =0.019) or 30-day readmission (P =0.000). There was also no difference in the post-operative surgical complications (P =0.118). Utility of neoadjuvant therapy did not increase during the pandemic (P =0.613). CONCLUSION(S): The heightened measures in the healthcare system ensured CRC patients still received their surgery in a timely fashion. With the current rise in the new strain of COVID-19 (Omicron), we have to continue to come up with new strategies to provide timely access to CRC care.Copyright © 2022 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.