Kontakt 2023, 25(3):179-184 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2023.035

Impact of the temporary suspension of national colorectal carcinoma screening programmes due to the COVID-19 outbreakNursing - Review article

Elena Janiczeková^{1, *}, Jana Lauková¹, Denisa Ivaničová^{1, 2}, Daniela Beňadiková^{1, 3}

¹ Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Faculty of Health, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic

² St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work Bratislava, Institute of Health, and Social Work St. Ladislava, Nové Zámky, Slovak Republic

³ Comenius University Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Department of Nursing, Martin, Slovak Republic

Introduction: Colorectal carcinoma (CRCa) is one of the few carcinomas where effective secondary prevention is possible due to the prevalent possibility of early diagnosing, which helps with subsequent and successful treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic in March 2020. Scientific studies have shown that colorectal carcinoma screening decreased or stopped in several European countries (Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Great Britain) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delaying colon carcinoma screening can have fatal consequences for some individuals. Goal: The review study aims to map the prevalence of CRCa in individuals in the context of the postponement of colorectal carcinoma screening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The selection of relevant sources was conducted in 2021 using search services and sources in electronic databases (PubMed, BioMed Central, Google Scholar). The analytical review study was processed using the PRISMA and PICO techniques.

Results: By reviewing the available research studies, we found that in several European countries the COVID-19 pandemic decreased or even stopped the CRCa screening programmes. The temporary suspension of screening programmes during the lockdown increased the incidence of CRCa. The detection rate of high-risk adenomas was also significantly higher during the lockdown, and CRCa was diagnosed at an early stage to a lesser extent. Anti-covid measures have markedly affected endoscopy services and histology laboratories, where the number of colon biopsy specimens related to CRCa screening has decreased.

Conclusion: The results of several studies indicate a correlation between the prevalence of CRCa and the lockdown.

Keywords: Colorectal carcinoma (CRCa); COVID-19; Postponement of screening; Screening

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: February 28, 2023; Revised: June 23, 2023; Accepted: August 21, 2023; Prepublished online: September 18, 2023; Published: September 21, 2023  Show citation