Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39747650›Full record

SynthesisNature cancer2025

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays and disruptions in cancer care services: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Richa Shah, Nader Mounir Hanna, Ching Ee Loo, Michael David, Allini Mafra, Hanna Fink, Ethna McFerran, Montse Garcia, Robabeh Ghodssighassemabadi, Suryakanta Acharya and 18 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Nature cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Observational
  5. Article
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  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
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  14. Article
  15. Observational
  16. Review
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  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

28 authors.

Richa ShahCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. shahr@iarc.who.int.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3625-8228
Nader Mounir HannaDepartment of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5341-4413
Ching Ee LooCentre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4727-2890
Michael DavidThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Allini MafraCancer Epidemiology and Prevention Team, Public Health Expertise, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg.
Hanna FinkCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Ethna McFerranQueen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8918-7822
Montse GarciaCancer Screening Unit, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Early Detection of Cancer Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-3185
Robabeh GhodssighassemabadiCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Suryakanta AcharyaAssam Cancer Care Foundation, Assam, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7792-0233
Jean NiyibagaCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Oliver LangseliusCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8862-133X
Clara FrickCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Nwamaka LasebikanOncology Center, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3775-0492
Jerome VignatCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Julia SteinbergThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0585-2312
Suzanne HughesThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Colleen Elizabeth KircherQueen's University School of Nursing, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Catherine Lindsay GoldieQueen's University School of Nursing, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Sam EggerThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Richard SullivanKing's College London, Institute of Cancer Policy, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6435-1825
Ophira GinsburgCenter for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Freddie BrayCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Michael CaruanaThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Harriet HuiThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
André Michel IlbawiDepartment of Non-Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4751-6595
Karen CanfellSchool of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Isabelle SoerjomataramCancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.

Funding

World Health Organization 001World Health Organization (WHO) 2021/1187438-0
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic substantially impacted the delivery of cancer services and programs. Here we reviewed and synthesized the global scale and impact of pandemic-related delays and disruptions on cancer services, including diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, screening, treatment and supportive and palliative care. Based on data from 245 articles in 46 countries, we observed declines in the number of cancer screening participation (39.0%), diagnoses (23.0%), diagnostic procedures (24.0%) and treatment (28.0%), ranging from a 15.0% decline for radiotherapy to a 35.0% decline for systemic treatment during the pandemic compared to during the prepandemic period. Medium-human development index (HDI) category countries experienced greater reductions than high- and very-high-HDI countries. Missing data from low-HDI countries emphasize the need for increased investments in cancer surveillance and research in these settings. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022301816.

Indexed as

COVID-19Delivery of Health CareNeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerGlobal HealthHumansPalliative CarePandemicsSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.