Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Radical Prostatectomy: A Turkish Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Urology
• Public Health

Background:

• The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems globally.
• Prostate cancer treatment, including radical prostatectomy, may have been affected by pandemic-related changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radical prostatectomy rates for localized prostate cancer in Turkey.
• To compare procedural volumes, timing, and pathological outcomes before and during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 176 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer across 8 Turkish centers.
• Data collected over two 1-year periods: pre-pandemic (March 2019-February 2020) and pandemic (March 2020-February 2021).
• Comparison of radical prostatectomy numbers, biopsy-to-operation time, and pathological findings between the two periods.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant decrease in radical prostatectomies performed during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (P <.001).
• Fewer patients diagnosed with Gleason 3+3 (low-risk) prostate cancer were observed during the pandemic (P <.001).
• Pathological Gleason score upgrading from biopsy was consistently observed in both periods (P <.001); lymph node involvement showed a non-significant decrease during the pandemic (P =.051).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in Turkey.
• The findings highlight the need for strategies to mitigate pandemic-related disruptions in cancer care.