BRCA testing delay during the COVID-19 pandemic: How to act?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to healthcare services globally.
• Germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA) testing is crucial for managing hereditary cancers, including ovarian, breast, pancreas, and prostate cancers.
• Initial reports indicated a significant drop in gBRCA testing during the early COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gBRCA testing rates.
• To analyze gBRCA testing trends post-lockdown and compare them with pre-pandemic years.
• To assess the long-term implications of pandemic-related testing delays on cancer patient care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of gBRCA testing data from a referral center in Italy.
• Comparison of testing volumes during lockdown (March-April 2020) and post-lockdown (May-October 2020).
• Trend analysis of annual gBRCA testing data from 2017 to 2020.

Main Results:

• gBRCA testing rates did not significantly increase after the initial lockdown period.
• Testing volumes in May-October 2020 remained low, similar to the lockdown phase.
• Overall gBRCA testing in 2020 (January-October) showed a significant decline compared to previous years, mirroring 2017 trends.
• The pandemic has caused a notable delay in oncogenetic testing for both cancer patients and healthy individuals.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted gBRCA testing, leading to significant delays in diagnosis and management.
• The observed trends question the sustainability of advancements in hereditary cancer management.
• Urgent measures are needed to ensure the continuity of oncogenetic testing services and integrate them into new diagnostic and clinical strategies.