The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of childhood, teenage and young adult cancers

In the United Kingdom (UK), the commonest cause of death in children, teenage and young adults (TYA) is cancer. Diagnostic delays are known to play a role. By increasing delays, the COVID-19 pandemic may worryingly contribute to worsening morbidity and mortality associated with cancer. There is an urgent need to explore the extent of these delays.

Using the UK’s largest general practice (GP) database, QResearch, we will identify children and TYA who have been diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic period and compare the characteristics and length of time taken to diagnose their cancer to those who were diagnosed three consecutive years prior to the pandemic.

Our goal is to ensure that appropriate policy and awareness strategies are put in place now, preparing us for the recovery period and any future resurgence of COVID-19 or other pandemic threats.

General Practice data: demographics, symptoms, diagnoses (of leukaemias, lymphomas, central nervous system tumours, sarcomas, and Wilms tumour), number of presentations, referral type, ICD9, and ICD10 codes.

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data: admission route, diagnoses, ICD9, and ICD10, as above.

Civil Registry data: date and cause of death.

Cancer Registry data: diagnosis (type and site of cancer), date of diagnosis, stage of cancer, and route to diagnosis.

Dr Defne Saatci, University of Oxford

Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, University of Oxford

Dr Jason Oke, University of Oxford

Professor Anthony Harnden, University of Oxford