Premium
Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on pediatric oncology care in the Middle East, North Africa, and West Asia region: A report from the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) group
Author(s) -
Saab Raya,
Obeid Anas,
Gachi Fatiha,
Boudiaf Houda,
Sargsyan Lilit,
AlSaad Khulood,
Javakhadze Tamar,
Mehrvar Azim,
Abbas Sawsan Sati,
Abed AlAgele Yasir Saadoon,
AlHaddad Salma,
Al Ani Mouroge Hashim,
AlSweedan Suleiman,
Al Kofide Amani,
Jastaniah Wasil,
Khalifa Nisreen,
Bechara Elie,
Baassiri Malek,
Noun Peter,
ElHoudzi Jamila,
Khattab Mohammed,
Sagar Sharma Krishna,
Wali Yasser,
Mushtaq Naureen,
Batool Aliya,
Faizan Mahwish,
Raza Muhammad Rafie,
Najajreh Mohammad,
Mohammed Abdallah Mohammed Awad,
Sousan Ghada,
Ghanem Khaled M.,
Kocak Ulker,
Kutluk Tezer,
Demir Hacı Ahmet,
Hodeish Hamoud,
Muwakkit Samar,
Belgaumi Asim,
AlRawas AbdulHakim,
Jeha Sima
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.33075
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , disease , family medicine , personal protective equipment , middle east , health care , pediatric oncology , radiation therapy , pediatric cancer , cancer , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economic growth , economics , political science , law
Background Childhood cancer is a highly curable disease when timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy are provided. A negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on access to care for children with cancer is likely but has not been evaluated. METHODS A 34‐item survey focusing on barriers to pediatric oncology management during the COVID‐19 pandemic was distributed to heads of pediatric oncology units within the Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) collaborative group, from the Middle East, North Africa, and West Asia. Responses were collected on April 11 through 22, 2020. Corresponding rates of proven COVID‐19 cases and deaths were retrieved from the World Health Organization database. Results In total, 34 centers from 19 countries participated. Almost all centers applied guidelines to optimize resource utilization and safety, including delaying off‐treatment visits, rotating and reducing staff, and implementing social distancing, hand hygiene measures, and personal protective equipment use. Essential treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, were delayed in 29% to 44% of centers, and 24% of centers restricted acceptance of new patients. Clinical care delivery was reported as negatively affected in 28% of centers. Greater than 70% of centers reported shortages in blood products, and 47% to 62% reported interruptions in surgery and radiation as well as medication shortages. However, bed availability was affected in <30% of centers, reflecting the low rates of COVID‐19 hospitalizations in the corresponding countries at the time of the survey. Conclusions Mechanisms to approach childhood cancer treatment delivery during crises need to be re‐evaluated, because treatment interruptions and delays are expected to affect patient outcomes in this otherwise largely curable disease.