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How uro-oncology has been affected by COVID-19 emergency? Data from Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta Oncological Network, Italy
Marco Oderda1, Giorgio Calleris1, Marco Falcone1
1Division of Urology, Molinette Hospital-Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted uro-oncology care in Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta, leading to reduced consultations and suspended major procedures. Addressing the backlog requires increased capacity to prevent delays in cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted healthcare systems, particularly in Northern Italy.
- Resource reallocation led to a significant reduction in urological services.
- Delays in uro-oncological care may negatively affect cancer patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on uro-oncological management in Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta.
- To estimate the future impact and required capacity to address postponed procedures.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was conducted across 12 urological centers in the Oncological Network of Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta.
- The survey aimed to quantify the disruption to uro-oncological practice during the emergency.
- Future capacity needs for backlog absorption were estimated.
Main Results:
- 77% of centers reported significant impact from the COVID-19 emergency.
- Follow-up consultations were reduced by over half in two-thirds of centers; major procedures were halved or suspended in 60%.
- Over 50% of uro-oncological procedures face delays exceeding one month, necessitating a substantial increase in urological working capacity.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 emergency has substantially slowed uro-oncological activity in the region.
- Timely management of uro-oncological patients may require referral to dedicated COVID-19-free tertiary centers.
Introduction:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically hit all Europe and Northern Italy in particular. The reallocation of medical resources has caused a sharp reduction in the activity of many medical disciplines, including urology. The restricted availability of resources is expected to cause a delay in the treatment of urological cancers and to negatively influence the clinical history of many cancer patients. In this study, we describe COVID-19 impact on uro-oncological management in Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta, estimating its future impact.
Methods:
We performed an online survey in 12 urological centers, belonging to the Oncological Network of Piedmont/Valle d'Aosta, to estimate the impact of COVID-19 emergency on their practice. On this basis, we then estimated the medical working capacity needed to absorb all postponed uro-oncological procedures.
Results:
Most centers (77%) declared to be "much"/"very much" affected by COVID-19 emergency. If uro-oncological consultations for newly diagnosed cancers were often maintained, follow-up consultations were more than halved or even suspended in around two out of three centers. In-office and day-hospital procedures were generally only mildly reduced, whereas major uro-oncological procedures were more than halved or even suspended in 60% of centers. To clear waiting list backlog, the urological working capacity should dramatically increase in the next months; delays greater than 1 month are expected for more than 50% of uro-oncological procedures.
Conclusions:
COVID-19 emergency has dramatically slowed down uro-oncological activity in Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. Ideally, uro-oncological patients should be referred to COVID-19-free tertiary urological centers to ensure a timely management.