The Impact of SARS-COV-2 on two Colorectal Cancer screening centres

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a pause in the BowelScreen program in March 2020.
• This pause led to significant delays in colonoscopy procedures for eligible individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the BowelScreen pause on colonoscopy activity and patient outcomes.
• To compare screening data from the period affected by the pause with the same period in 2019.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of endoscopy and histology data from the BowelScreen database and patient records.
• Comparison of colonoscopy numbers, lead times, and detection rates between March-May 2020 and March-May 2019.

Main Results:

• Colonoscopy activity decreased by over 50% in 2020 compared to 2019, with a median lead time increase from 34 to 74 days.
• Adenoma detection rate remained consistent at 59% for both periods.
• Advanced adenoma and cancer detection rates were similar between the two periods.

Conclusions:

• Despite reduced activity and increased waiting times during the initial COVID-19 wave, the BowelScreen pause did not negatively affect the clinical outcomes for patients who underwent screening colonoscopy.
• The findings suggest resilience in the detection of significant pathologies even with procedural delays.