ArticleActa oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)2025
Changes in cancer incidence and stage during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 in the Nordic countries.
Article in Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trends in early-onset cancer incidence rates in the Nordic countries (2003-2022): a population-based study.The Lancet regional health. Europe · 2026Article
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer incidence, stage, mortality, and short-term survival in Ireland: a population-based analysis.ESMO real world data and digital oncology · 2026Article
- Inpatient Hemato-Oncology Service Use Before, During, and After COVID-19 Restrictions in a Romanian Tertiary Center.Cureus · 2026Article
- Cancer Diagnoses and Deaths in Hungary, 2011-2023: Nationwide Trends Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.Cancers · 2026Article
- Colorectal cancer incidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a non-linear interrupted time-series analysis.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Article
- Review
- Cancer incidence trends in Baden-Württemberg (Southwest Germany) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023).Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2025Article
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19 authors.
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Abstract
background and purposeThe COVID-19 pandemic impacted substantially on cancer healthcare, including the temporary suspension of screening activities. We compared cancer incidence rates and stage during 2020-2021 to pre-pandemic rates in the Nordic countries. MATERIAL AND
methodsUsing data from the national cancer registries in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, we estimated age-, sex-, and period-adjusted incidence rate ratios, expressed as relative percentage change (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing rates in 2020-2021 to those in 2017-2019 (pre-pandemic).
resultsIn 2020-2021, 340,675 cancer cases were diagnosed. The incidence rates declined during the first pandemic wave (Q2 2020), ranging from -21.7% [95% CI: -23.3%; -20.2%] (Sweden) to -7.9% [-17.7%; 3.0%] (Iceland). Incidence rates also declined in the second pandemic wave (Q1 2021), ranging from -8.6% [-10.2%; -6.9%] (Sweden) to -2.3% [-4.6%; 0.1%] (Norway), and in Sweden also by -3.1% [-4.8%; -1.3%] in the third pandemic wave (Q4 2021). Stage I breast cancer incidence declined during 2020 in Denmark/Norway/Sweden, with some catch-up in stage II incidence in 2021. Prostate cancer rates declined in Denmark/Finland/Norway/Sweden during 2020-2021, while melanoma rates declined in Finland in 2020. During 2020, colon cancer rates declined in Denmark and Iceland, while rectal cancer rates declined in Denmark, and lung and kidney cancer rates declined in Norway.
interpretationDuring 2020-2021, cancer incidence rates declined across the Nordic countries with the largest declines in Sweden. During the third pandemic wave, the incidence rates were mostly similar to pre-pandemic rates. Changes in cancer stage may reflect reduced screening activities.
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