Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39356038›Full record

ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2024

COVID-19 pandemic impact on gynecologic cancer treatment pathways in a Finnish tertiary center.

Hanna Pikkujämsä, Tiina Luukkaala, Reita H Nyberg, Karolina Louvanto

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Global determinants of gynecologic cancer incidence and mortality: A cluster-based analysis with predictive insights.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hanna PikkujämsäFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0009-0000-3055-5240
Tiina LuukkaalaResearch, Development and Innovation Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Reita H NybergDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-6907-1147
Karolina LouvantoFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-1172-363X

Funding

Research Counsil of FinlandSigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCOVID-19 and new guidelines during the pandemic affected the gynecologic cancer treatment pathways, resulting in recorded delays and modifications in the treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the major gynecologic cancer care centers in Finland, Tampere University Hospital. MATERIAL AND

methodsOur retrospective register study included 909 patients that were new gynecologic cancer cases (uterine, cervical, vulvar, vaginal, or ovarian) referred to the Tampere University Hospital Gynecologic Oncology Outpatient Clinic between March 17th, 2018, and March 15th, 2022. The patients were divided into two separate groups depending on their time of referral: time before COVID (March 17th, 2018, to March 15th, 2020), and during COVID (March 16th, 2020, to March 15th, 2022). These groups were compared in terms of patient characteristics, different cancer types and stages, symptoms, and treatment methods.

resultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, patients generally suffered from cancer symptoms longer (p < 0.003) and were more likely to be overweight (p = 0.035). The improved multidisciplinary team meeting gave the patients a faster route to their first intervention during COVID (p < 0.05). An insignificant shift toward nonsurgical first interventions and non-curative intent was seen during COVID, but the multidisciplinary team treatment plans were mostly implemented accordingly on both eras. No decrease was seen in the number of new gynecologic cancer cases, and the one-year overall survival remained the same in both groups.

conclusionsOverall, the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly alter treatment pathways in gynecologic cancer care at Tampere University Hospital. The number of new patients and given treatments remained relatively stable. During COVID, access from referral to cancer treatment was significantly accelerated, which is likely confounded by changes to the multidisciplinary team protocol made in early 2021.

Indexed as

COVID-19Genital Neoplasms, FemaleSARS-CoV-2Tertiary Care CentersAdultAgedFemaleFinlandHumansMiddle AgedPandemicsReferral and ConsultationRegistriesRetrospective StudiesTime-to-TreatmentCOVID‐19delaygynecologic cancermultidiscipline team meetingtreatment

Identifiers

PMID39356038
PMCPMC11609985

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.