Cancer detection in the U.S. dropped by approximately 9% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent cross-sectional study.

Researchers evaluated the disruption in cancer detection during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery in 2021. Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, the study included 15,831,912 patients diagnosed with invasive cancer between 2000 and 2021.

The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, found that cancer incidence in 2020 was approximately 9% lower than expected, translating to an estimated deficit of approximately 127,931 cancer cases. By 2021, cancer detection had nearly returned to projected levels, with a minimal difference of -0.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.7% to 0.4%) between actual and expected incidence. However, detection rates remained lower in certain subgroups, particularly in rural populations, where incidence was 4.9% lower than expected (95% CI, -6.7% to -3.1%) in 2021.

From 2020 to 2021, the largest deficits in cancer diagnoses were observed in the following sites: lung and bronchus with 24,940 fewer cases (95% CI, -28,936 to -20,944), prostate with 14,104 fewer cases (95% CI, -27,472 to -736), and melanoma with 10,274 fewer cases (95% CI, -12,825 to -7,724).

Subgroup analysis indicated that lung, prostate, and melanoma cancers had the largest cumulative deficits in diagnosed cases. Although detection improved in 2021, the study suggests that continued efforts in screening and diagnostic services may be necessary to address patients whose diagnoses were delayed during the pandemic. The study indicates that reestablishing cancer screening programs may support timely diagnoses. Ongoing monitoring of cancer incidence trends may be required to ensure patients receive appropriate care as healthcare services return to pre-pandemic levels.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.