Justus-Liebig-University Giessen Reports Findings in COVID-19 (COVID-19 related decline in cancer screenings most pronounced for elderly patients and women in Germany: a claims data analysis): Coronavirus – COVID-19

2022 DEC 08 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- New research on Coronavirus - COVID-19 is the subject of a report. According to news originating from Giessen, Germany, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “This study aimed to analyze the utilization of cancer screenings in Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The objective of the analysis was to identify the population at particular risk and to derive recommendations for the future use of resources to prevent long-term deteriorations in health outcomes.”

Financial support for this research came from Justus-Liebig-Universitat Gießen.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, “The analysis was conducted based on claims data of all preventive health services for 15,833,662 patients from the largest statutory health insurance fund in Germany. Utilization of general female cancer screening, general male cancer screening, general health checkup, colorectal cancer screening stool test, colorectal cancer screening consultation, colonoscopy, skin cancer screening, and mammography screening was compared before (2017-2019) and during (2020) the pandemic. Data of a total of 42,046,078 observed screenings showed that the utilization of the individual screenings developed differently, but that the overall utilization decreased significantly by 21.46% during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.001). At the same time, no catch-up effects were detected for total screenings throughout the entire year 2020. The highest decline in screenings was found for the elderly (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001). Because the elderly are at higher risk for cancer, the omission of early detection might lead to higher treatment costs, reduced quality of life, and higher mortality. In addition, women’s medical care in particular has been negatively affected, for example, by the interruption of mammography screenings and the lack of catch-up effects.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Therefore, resources must be targeted to reduce burdens on health outcomes and public health in the long term.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: COVID-19 related decline in cancer screenings most pronounced for elderly patients and women in Germany: a claims data analysis. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 2022. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology can be contacted at: Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States. (Springer - www.springer.com; Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology - http://www.springerlink.com/content/0171-5216/)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from Cornelia Strauss, Dept. of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 35394, Giessen, Germany. Additional authors for this research include Jennifer Muschol and Christian Gissel.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-022-04433-z. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

The publisher’s contact information for the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology is: Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States.

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