CÂNCER DE MAMA NA PARAÍBA: COVID-19, MAMOGRAFIAS, INTERNAÇÕES E ÓBITOS

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To analyze the impact of 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on number of mammographies, hospitalizations and deaths from breast malignant neoplasm (NMM) in Paraíba. Methods: Btime-series observational study using comparative analysis of numbers of mammographies, hospitalizations and deaths from NMM recorded from 2017 to 2019 and values projected by linear regression methods for 2020 and 2021. The statistical significance level applied was 0.05. Results: There was a decrease in number of mammographies in 2020 compared to 2018 (Δ= −34.9%; P= 0.02), 2019 (Δ= −38.7%; P= 0.001) and 2021 (Δ= −29 .6%; P=0.018). There was a decrease in number of hospitalizations in 2020 compared to 2017 (Δ= +26.8%; P= 0.012), as well as a decrease in 2020 compared to 2019 (Δ= −18.3%; P= 0.041). Values recorded for mammographies and hospitalizations in 2020 (P=0.001) and 2021 (P=0.001) were statistically lower than projected. About number of deaths, those recorded in 2020 (P=0.017) and 2021 (P=0.047) were statistically lower than projected. Conclusions: During COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in number of mammographies and hospitalizations, while deaths from NMM were maintained. These data might have resulted from inadequate assistance to women during that period, requiring planning of immediate actions for patients who will receive a delayed diagnosis of NMM.