Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incidence, time of diagnosis and delivery of healthcare among paediatric oncology patients in Germany in 2020: Evidence from the German Childhood Cancer Registry and a qualitative survey

BACKGROUND: The indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care and timely diagnosis is of increasing concern. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incidence, time of diagnosis and delivery of healthcare among paediatric oncology patients in Germany in 2020. METHODS: We analysed incident paediatric cancer cases diagnosed in 0- to 17-year olds in Germany in 2020 using data of the German Childhood Cancer Registry. Absolute numbers and age-standardised incidence rates (ASR) in 2020 were compared to the previous five years (2015–2019). Moreover, we conducted a survey with open-ended questions, gathering perceptions of the diagnostic process and healthcare delivery for paediatric oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. FINDINGS: More or similar numbers of paediatric cancer patients were newly diagnosed each month throughout 2020 in comparison to the previous five years. The estimated ASRs showed markedly higher incidence rates, overall and across diagnostic groups, in 2020 compared to 2015-2019. Results from the qualitative survey indicated that diagnostic processes, timeliness of diagnosis, and delivery of treatment were hardly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, psychosocial supportive care and non-urgent appointments were considerably reduced during the lockdown periods. INTERPRETATION: We found no indications of severe adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on diagnosis and delivery of healthcare among children with cancer in Germany. The underlying reasons of the increase in incidence rates remain speculative. Continued close monitoring of incidence patterns may shed light on the underlying reasons of the present increase and contribute to understanding disease aetiology. FUNDING: None