Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of dangerous types of skin cancer due to coronavirus lockdowns have cost more than 100,000 years of life and more than £6 billion to the economy across Europe, it has been revealed. research suggests.
Lockdowns have saved lives from the coronavirus, but the impact of restrictions is being felt in many areas of healthcare, from long waiting lists for surgeries to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers studying the impact of lockdowns on melanoma patients say policymakers should do more to promote disease prevention and plan to prevent disruptions to testing services in the event of a future pandemic. He says it is necessary to stand up.
“Lockdowns are undoubtedly necessary and will directly help save lives from COVID-19, but indirectly cause lives to be lost. All of these need to be considered,” said study co-author Dr Kaustubh Adhikari from University College London and the Open University.
An international team of researchers writes in the journal JAMA Network Open, using data from nearly 900 patients in Switzerland and Hungary collected before 2020 and until December 2021. describes how they estimated the proportion of people diagnosed with different stages of melanoma. Pandemic.
They found that a higher proportion of people in both countries were diagnosed with more advanced melanoma during the pandemic. Overall, the researchers estimated that 17% of patients progressed to more severe cancer stages as a result of delays in diagnosis and treatment due to lockdown.
The researchers compiled this estimate from a number of European countries, including treatment costs at different stages, melanoma incidence, duration of lockdown, and years of healthy life lost at each stage of melanoma. was used with the data. To assess the impact of lockdown on melanoma patients.
The results show that the coronavirus lockdown, which the research team defined as “the elimination of routine medical examinations and the significant restriction of access to follow-up testing for at least four weeks,” has taken a toll on the health and finances of melanoma patients. This suggests that it was given.
Overall, the researchers suggest that such measures cost 111,464 years of life in 31 European countries, including Germany, France and the UK, with a total economic cost of £6.1bn. This is mainly due to decreased productivity due to mortality. or disability due to melanoma.
The research team said the study had limitations, including the extrapolation of results from the two countries to other countries, the diversity of European healthcare systems, and the impact on mental health. However, the study highlights the importance of testing and maintaining testing. Prevention during health crises.
Dr Adil Sheraz, a consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, who was not involved in the study, said he was not surprised by the results.
“Unfortunately, the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted access to virtually all outpatient medical specialties. Of course, there have also been challenges in meeting in person with a general practitioner. “It's very difficult to diagnose melanoma without seeing it directly,” he said.
“The results of this multicenter study are not surprising. The loss in productivity and health outcomes reinforces the importance of melanoma screening.”
