Examining the COVID-19 impact on cancer surgery in Ireland using three national data sources

The healthcare system in Ireland was profoundly affected by COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on cancer surgery in Ireland, from 2019 to 2022 using three national health data sources.

A repeated cross-sectional study design was used and included: (i) cancer resections from the National Histopathology Quality Improvement (NHQI) Programmes; (ii) cancer surgery from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI), and (iii) cancer surgery from Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) System. Cancer surgery was presented by invasive/in situ and invasive only cancers (NCRI & HIPE), and by four main cancer types (breast, lung, colorectal & melanoma for NCRI & HIPE data only).

The annual number of cancer resections (NHQI) declined by 4.4% in 2020 but increased by 4% in 2021 compared with 2019. NCRI data indicated invasive/in-situ cancer surgery for the four main cancer types declined by 14% in 2020 and 5.1% in 2021, and by 12.3% and 7.3% for invasive cancer only, compared to 2019. Within HIPE for the same tumour types, invasive/in situ cancer surgery declined by 21.9% in 2020 and 9.9% in 2021 and by 20.8% and 9.6% for invasive cancer only. NHQI and HIPE data indicated an increase in the number of cancer surgeries performed in 2022.

Cancer surgery declined in the initial pandemic waves suggests mitigation measures for cancer surgery, including utilising private hospitals for public patients, reduced the adverse impact on cancer surgery.