Decrease in Head and Neck Cancer Incidence Seen During Pandemic
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Jan. 12, 2024 -- During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) decreased, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Jason Semprini, Ph.D., from the University of Iowa College of Public Health in Iowa City, and colleagues examined the change in localized versus advanced HNC incidence rates before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with HNC from 2017 to 2020 in the United States.
The researchers found that in 2019, an estimated 21,664 patients were diagnosed with oral cavity and pharynx cancer compared with 20,390 in 2020. From 2019 to 2020, there was a decrease in the HNC incidence rate from 11.6 to 10.8 cases per 100,000 people. During the same period, the incidence rate of localized cancer decreased 7.9 percent to 8.8 cases. During the first year of the pandemic, the localized cancer incidence decreased the most among men, Hispanic patients, and individuals with larynx cancer (−9.3, −12,9, and −14.3 percent, respectively). For advanced HNC, there was no change observed in the overall incidence rate.
"This current analysis provides baseline data for how the COVID-19 pandemic potentially affected HNC incidence and highlights areas in which interventions and research may be needed to improve future outcomes for patients with HNC," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2024
Further Support and Information on COVID-19
Read this next
Higher COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Tied to Decrease in Childhood Asthma Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 -- Higher COVID-19 vaccination rates are associated with a lower prevalence of parent-reported childhood asthma symptoms, according to a research letter...
AI-Assisted Contours Superior to Cognitively Defined Prostate Cancer Contours
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 -- Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted definition of prostate cancer contours reduces underestimation of the extent of prostate cancer, according to a...
Mean Cost of Bringing New Drug to U.S. Market Is $879.3 Million
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- The mean cost of developing a new drug for the U.S. market is estimated to be $879.3 million when both drug development failure and capital costs are...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.