Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on cancer patient flow and management: experience from a large university hospital in Spain

Abstract

We report the dramatic shift of the oncology activity at our department during a 5-week period (9 March–13 April 2020) as compared with the same calendar interval in 2019 . Overall, our Medical Oncology Department has experienced remarkable drop in activity. The number of outpatient’s visits decreased by 23%. One of the most worrisome concern is that the new oncology referrals were reduced by 37%, and the number of patients enrolled in clinical trials decreased by 43%. These data would mean that nearly 4 out 10 patients with cancer have been missed or their treatment delayed.