Uncovering the impact of COVID-19 on the place of death of cancer patients in South America

Descobrindo o impacto da COVID-19 no local de morte de pacientes com câncer na América do Sul

Descubriendo el impacto de la COVID-19 en el local del fallecimiento de pacientes con cáncer en América del Sur

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare systems worldwide, especially on the management of chronic diseases such as cancer. This study explores the effects of COVID-19 on cancer mortality trends in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. The monthly age-standardized mortality rates in different places of death (hospital/clinic or home) were estimated using vital statistics and death certificate databases. An interrupted time series analysis was performed for each country, using the date of lockdown implementation as the intervention point. Overall cancer mortality rates reduced after the implementation of pandemic restrictions, with a significant decrease in Brazil. In total, 75.3%, 55.4%, and 45.7% of deaths in Brazil, Peru, and Chile, respectively, occurred in hospitals. After lockdowns were implemented, at-home deaths increased in all countries, and in-hospital deaths correspondingly decreased only in Chile. Our results suggest that COVID-19 has significantly affected rates of cancer mortality and place of death in Latin America.

Keywords:
Neoplasms; COVID-19; Cause of Death