| Contributors: |
Ferro, M.; Del Giudice, F.; Carrieri, G.; Busetto, G. M.; Cormio, L.; Hurle, R.; Contieri, R.; Arcaniolo, D.; Sciarra, A.; Maggi, M.; Porpiglia, F.; Manfredi, M.; Fiori, C.; Antonelli, A.; Tafuri, A.; Bove, P.; Terrone, C.; Borghesi, M.; Costantini, E.; Iliano, E.; Montanari, E.; Boeri, L.; Russo, G. I.; Madonia, M.; Tedde, A.; Veccia, A.; Simeone, C.; Liguori, G.; Trombetta, C.; Brunocilla, E.; Schiavina, R.; Dal Moro, F.; Racioppi, M.; Vartolomei, M. D.; Longo, N.; Spirito, L.; Crocetto, F.; Cantiello, F.; Damiano, R.; Di Stasi, S. M.; Marchioni, M.; Schips, L.; Parma, P.; Carmignani, L.; Conti, A.; Soria, F.; Gontero, P.; Barone, B.; Deho, F.; Zaffuto, E.; Papalia, R.; Scarpa, R. M.; Pagliarulo, V.; Lucarelli, G.; Ditonno, P.; Botticelli, F. M. G.; Musi, G.; Catellani, M.; de Cobelli, O. |
| Description: |
Background: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was per-formed using an Italian multi-institutional database of TURBT patients with high-risk urothelial NMIBC between January 2019 and February 2021, followed by Re-TURBT and/or adjuvant intravesical BCG. Results: A total of 2591 patients from 27 institutions with primary TURBT were included. Of these, 1534 (59.2%) and 1056 (40.8%) underwent TURBT before and during the COVID-19 out-break, respectively. Time between diagnosis and TURBT was significantly longer during the COVID-19 period (65 vs. 52 days, p = 0.002). One thousand and sixty-six patients (41.1%) received Re-TURBT, 604 (56.7%) during the pre-COVID-19. The median time to secondary resection was significantly longer during the COVID-19 period (55 vs. 48 days, p < 0.0001). A total of 977 patients underwent adjuvant intravesical therapy after primary or secondary resection, with a similar distribution across the two groups (n = 453, 86% vs. n = 388, 86.2%). However, the proportion of the patients who underwent maintenance significantly differed (79.5% vs. 60.4%, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge to our health system. Our study did not show significant differences in TURBT quality. However, a delay in treatment schedule and disease management was observed. Investigation of the oncological impacts of those differences should be advocated. |