Background and MethodsThis retrospective observational study analyzes how the COVID‐19 pandemic affected surgical oncology healthcare in a large sample from Piedmont, Northern Italy. Patients admitted for regular hospitalization were included (n = 99 651). Data from 2020 were compared to the averages from 2016 to 2019, stratified by tumor site, year, month, and admission method, using interrupted time series analysis post‐March 2020.ResultsIn 2020, oncological surgeries decreased by 12.3% (n = 17 923) compared to the 2016–2019 average (n = 20 432), notably dropping post‐March (incidence rate ratio = 0.858; p < 0.001). The greatest reduction was observed for breast (−19.2%), colon (−18.2%), bladder (−17.5%), kidney (−14.2%), and prostate (−14%) surgeries. There was a huge reduction in nonemergency admissions (−13.6%), especially for colon (−23.8%), breast (−19.4%), and bladder (−18.7%). The proportion of hospitalizations with emergency access increased (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe COVID‐19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in cancer surgeries in Piedmont in 2020, with an increase in the proportion of admissions through emergency access.DiscussionThe research provides valuable insights for comparing data with other regions and evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to recover lost surgical procedures. These findings can be useful to policymakers in developing coordinated measures and more efficient access strategies to healthcare services in any future emergency situations.

中文翻译：

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大流行对意大利皮埃蒙特肿瘤外科的影响：一项回顾性观察研究

背景和方法这项回顾性观察研究通过意大利北部皮埃蒙特大样本分析了 COVID-19 大流行如何影响外科肿瘤医疗保健。纳入定期住院治疗的患者（n= 99 651）。将2020年的数据与2016年至2019年的平均值进行比较，按肿瘤部位、年份、月份和入院方式进行分层，使用2020年3月后的间断时间序列分析。结果2020年，肿瘤手术减少了12.3%（n= 17 923) 与 2016-2019 年平均值相比 (n= 20 432），3 月后显着下降（发病率比 = 0.858；p< 0.001）。减少幅度最大的是乳腺癌（-19.2%）、结肠（-18.2%）、膀胱（-17.5%）、肾脏（-14.2%）和前列腺（-14%）手术。非急诊入院人数大幅减少（-13.6%），尤其是结肠（-23.8%）、乳腺癌（-19.4%）和膀胱（-18.7%）。急诊住院的比例有所增加（p< 0.001)。结论 COVID-19 大流行导致 2020 年皮埃蒙特的癌症手术显着减少，通过紧急入院的比例增加。讨论该研究为与其他地区的数据比较和评估手术的有效性提供了宝贵的见解。努力恢复丢失的手术程序。这些发现可帮助政策制定者在未来的紧急情况下制定协调措施和更有效地获得医疗服务的策略。