Santoro Giulio A., Grossi Ugo, Murad-Regadas Sthela, Nunoo-Mensah Joseph W., Mellgren Anders, Di Tanna Gian Luca, Gallo Gaetano, Tsang Charles, Wexner Steven D,
La Torre Filippo, Abary Ryan Rainiel A, Philippines, Abdelwahab Khaled M Egypt, Abellán Antonio M Spain, Abraham Ned Australia, Achkasov Sergey I Russia, Adamina Michel Switzerland, Adamo Vincenzo Italy, Agapov Mikhail Russia, Agarwal Amit Usa, Aguado López Héctor Spain, Aguilar Werner Chile, AguilarMartínez María Del Mar AM Spain, Aguilera Asuncion Spain, Ahmed Jamil Uk, Aiello Domenico Italy, Akagi Tomonori Japan, Akcakaya Adem Turkey, Akhtar Khalid I Pakistan, Akiba Ricardo Brazil, Akrami Majid Iran, Akyol Cihangir Turkey, Alaamer Ohood H Saudi Arabia, Alapati Kishore India, Alasari Sami Saudi Arabia, Albastaki Sara Uae, Albergaria Diogo Portugal, Alconchel Felipe Spain, Alerta-Torre Andrea J Philippines, Alex Ochsner Switzerland, Alexander Herold Germany, Alfaro Samuel El Salvador, Ali Jehangir F Pakistan, Aliyazicioglu Tolga Turkey, Almgla Naser South Africa, Alonsopoza Alfredo Spain, Al-Radjid Jamiri Philippines, Alselaim Nahar A Saudi Arabia, Altaf Kiran K Uk, Althebaity Rasha Saudi Arabia, Altinel Yuksel Turkey, Altiparmak Basak Turkey, Altomare Donato F Italy, Alvandipour Mina Iran, Alvarez-Gallego Mario Spain, Alyami Mohammad Saudi Arabia, Amado Sandra Portugal, Amato Antonio Italy, Amodio Pietro M Italy, Ana-Maria Mușină Romania, Andrade Luis Chile, Andreas Kohler Switzerland, Angelini Giulio Italy, Angenete Eva Sweden, Annicchiarico Alfredo Italy, Antelo Galarza Renan Bolivia, Anwer Mariyah Pakistan, Aparício David J Portugal, Arciniega Jose A Mexico, Arezzo Alberto Italy, Argenio Giulio Italy, Arenas Mara Belgium, Arnaud Alves AA France, Arredondo Jorge Spain, Arslan Baha Turkey, Arya Shobhit Uk, Aselmann Heiko Germany, Aumann Georg Germany, Avanzolini Andrea Italy, Avendano Rodolfo Chile, Awedew Atalel F Ethiopia, Ayantunde Abraham Uk, Aycan Ilker Turkey, Aytac Erman Turkey, Azevedo Constança TM Portugal, Ba Am Iraq, Bader Fg Germany, Baehrle Markus Germany, Bagaglini Giulia Italy, Balaban Vladimir Russia, Balciscueta Zutoia Spain, Balciscueta Izaskun Spain, Baldazzi Gianandrea Italy, Balik Emre Turkey, Bandolon Robert Philippines, Barberis Andrea Italy, Barisic Goran I Serbia, Barrera Alejandro Chile, Barros Inês MSF Portugal, Basaran Betul Turkey, Basilio Pedro C Brazil, Bech Flemming Denmark, Behboo Roubik Iran, Behboudi Behnam Iran, Beitia Ivan E Panama, Bellato Vittoria Italy, Bellolio Felipe Chile, Benli Sami Turkey, Bernal Jc Spain, Bernante Paolo Italy, Berrospi Francisco E Peru, Bertelson Noelle Usa, Bevan Katharine Uk, Bhama Anuradha Usa, Bianco Francesco Italy, Bievel Radulescu Raluca Romania, Bintraiki Thamer Saudi Arabia, Bisgin Tayfun Turkey, Bislenghi Gabriele Belgium, Blaslaina Juanluis Spain, Bloom Itm Uk, Boehm Gabriele Germany, Bogoni Selene Italy, Bohlooli Mehrdad Iran, Bondurri Andrea Italy, Boni Luigi Italy, Bonomi Alessandro Michele Italy, Booning Nitikun Thailand, Boonpipattanapong Teeranut Thailand, Bordeianou Liliana Usa, Bossard Kerrie Usa, Botelho Maria Portugal, Boto Carlos Portugal, Bottini Corrado Italy, Bouchagier Konstantinos Greece, Boutall Adam South Africa, Bowers Dan Usa, Bozbiyik Osman Turkey, Brambilla Eduardo Brazil, Brisinda Giuseppe Italy, Brizzi Maria Pia Italy, Brizzolari Marco Italy, Brusciano Luigi Italy, Bucci Luigi Italy, Buchwald Pam Sweden, Bugra Dursun Turkey, Bui Andrew Australia, Buldanlı Mehmet Zeki Turkey, Bulut Orhan Denmark, Cagigas Fernandez Carmen Spain, Cai Yuankun China, Calcerrada Alises Enrique Spain, Caldes Pedro Portugal, Calussi Marco Italy, Calvo Espino Pablo Spain, Campanelli Michela Italy, Campbell Ken Uk, Campennì Paola Italy, Canda Arasemre Turkey, Capolupo Gabriella T Italy, Ca
Background
The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic.
Methods
The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice.
Results
A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not.
Conclusions
Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care.
