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Original Research

Open Access Special Issue

Decrease in prostate cancer detection during COVID-19 pandemic

  • Daniel Porav-Hodade1
  • Daniel Balan1
  • Raul Gherasim1
  • Oliver Arpad Vida1
  • Ciprian Todea-Moga1
  • Septimiu Voidazan2
  • Orsolya Martha1

1Department of Urology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540124 Targu Mures, Romania

2Department of Epidemiology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology “George Emil Palade” of Targu Mures, 540124 Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.31083/jomh.2021.110 Vol.17,Issue 4,September 2021 pp.151-155

Submitted: 20 April 2021 Accepted: 16 June 2021

Published: 30 September 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapy and prognosis of metastatic prostate cancer)

*Corresponding Author(s): Daniel Balan E-mail: balan_dani@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the detection of prostate cancer in men considered at high risk. This was done by comparing data from the Mures County Clinical Hospital, Clinic of Urology one year before (non-pandemic, NP) and during (pandemic, P) the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed based on the Mures County Clinical Hospital database. The inclusion criteria were clinical suspicion (digital rectal examination) and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (threshold 3.2 ng/mL). Statistical analysis was performed with STATA 11 Program. Mann-Whitney, Student and chi-square tests were used to compare median PSA, prostate volume, number of TRUSbx performed, number of core biopsies, Gleason Score values, and perineural invasion between the NP and P groups.

Results: A total of 440 patients were studied, comprising 271 in the NP group and 169 in the P group. The average number of TRUSbx procedures was 22.58 per month in 2019 (NP group) and 14.08 per month in 2020 (P group), representing a decrease of 37.65%. Analysis of data for the P and NP groups showed a median PSA of 10.48 vs 10.58, mean prostatic volume of 43.69 vs 43.26, number of core biopsies 11.39 vs 11.70, and Gleason score of 7.31 vs 7.15, respectively. Mann-Whitney U test revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups, with only the Gleason Score showing a trend for significance (p = 0.065).

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major decrease in the number of surgeries performed, with TRUSbx declining by almost 40%. No differences between P and NP periods were observed for median PSA, prostate volume, number of core biopsies, and perineural invasion. The Gleason Score showed a slightly higher incidence of advanced prostate cancer in the P group, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Keywords

Global pandemic; COVID-19; TRUSbx; Prostate biopsy; Prostate cancer

Cite and Share

Daniel Porav-Hodade,Daniel Balan,Raul Gherasim,Oliver Arpad Vida,Ciprian Todea-Moga,Septimiu Voidazan,Orsolya Martha. Decrease in prostate cancer detection during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Men's Health. 2021. 17(4);151-155.

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