Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers

• Published in: Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 456 - 461
• Main Authors: Alvarenga, Gustavo Fernandes de, Nogueira Leite, Ana Kober, Lehn, Carlos Neutzling, Dedivitis, Rogério Aparecido, Yumi Nakai, Marianne, Cavalheiro, Beatriz Godoi, Vaz Teixeira, Gilberto, De Cicco, Rafael, Kowalski, Luiz Paulo, Matos, Leandro Luongo de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España S.L.U 01.05.2023; Elsevier España, S.L.U; Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U; Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial; Elsevier
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Cancer treatment; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasm; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Original; OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY; Pandemics; Brazil; COVID-19; Head and Neck Neoplasm; Pandemics; Cancer treatment
• ISSN: 1808-8694; 1808-8686; 1808-8686
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2023.01.002

•The total number of diagnostic exams and surgical procedures had decreased significantly.•Surgery for head and neck cancer treatment increased in the total surgical logbook.•Most residents faced reduction in surgical logbook and deployment to COVID-19 facilities. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the healthcare access, treatment, and follow-up of oncologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected consultation and follow-up demand as well as treatment volume at Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery centers. An anonymous online questionnaire was used for collection of data across all Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers across a 3-month period (April‒June 2021). This information included the characteristics of each center, and the perceived self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic activities, residency training, and the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with Head and Neck diseases between 2019 and 2020. The response rate across the 40 registered Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers was 47.5% (n=19). The data showed a significant reduction in the total number of consultations (24.8%) and number of attending patients (20.2%) between 2019 and 2020. The total number of diagnostic exams (31.6%) and surgical procedures (13.0%) conducted over this period also decreased significantly. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant national impact on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of the pandemic on cancer treatment. Evidence from a single descriptive study.