Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Global and Current Research Trends of Single-Cell Sequencing in Cancer: A Bibliometric and Visualization Study
07:50

Global and Current Research Trends of Single-Cell Sequencing in Cancer: A Bibliometric and Visualization Study

Published on: April 18, 2025

389

Impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening: a global perspective

Leila Allahqoli1, Afrooz Mazidimoradi2, Hamid Salehiniya3

  • 1Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran.

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|July 21, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically reduced cancer screening rates globally across all demographics, with significant disparities observed in underserved racial groups. This disruption impacts cancer management and patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems.
  • Disruptions in routine medical services, including cancer screening, were widely reported.
  • The long-term consequences of these disruptions on cancer care pathways remain a critical area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on worldwide cancer screening programs.
  • To analyze the extent of disruption and identify affected populations and healthcare systems.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 33 relevant publications was conducted.
  • Data were synthesized to assess changes in cancer screening rates and program suspensions.
  • Analysis focused on variations across cancer types, age groups, and racial/ethnic demographics.

Main Results:

  • Cancer screening rates declined sharply across all cancer types, age groups, and racial/ethnic categories globally.
  • Underserved racial groups experienced disproportionately higher reductions in screening percentages.
  • Cancer screening services were suspended for a minimum of 30 days in 13 countries.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant global reduction in cancer screening, with potential long-term implications for patient outcomes.
  • Disparities in screening reductions highlight the need for targeted interventions to address inequities in cancer care.
  • Further research is essential to fully understand the pandemic's impact on cancer services and patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-1906:46

A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19

Published on: July 5, 2022

2.9K
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches06:19

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Ion Channels in Cancer: Characterization and Potential Treatment Approaches

Published on: June 16, 2023

3.3K

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Survival Analysis01:21

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
437
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
502
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
7.9K
Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
1.1K
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
49.4K
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
12.5K