The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary Bladder Cancer Presentations

In this study, investigators aim to reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic process affects primary bladder cancer presentations, tumor stages and degrees, the time elapsed between diagnosis and intervention, tumor recurrence and progression, which are oncological results.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Covid19; Bladder Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: COVID-19 pandemic

Detailed Description

The rapid spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel betacoronavirus known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had dramatic effects on individuals and health systems around the world. Beyond those infected with SARS-CoV-2, the intense demand for limited health system resources has led to reduced capacity, rapid depletion of healthcare systems, and hospitals becoming a source of virus transmission.

Urology associations and reference centers have issued recommendations to inform urology care during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is essential that urologists give priority to patient safety. Potential delays in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions and the additional burden on healthcare resources must be balanced against the risks of exposure to COVID-19. While this situation aims to conserve healthcare resources, it has created the risk of delaying cancer treatment. As a result, the transformation of health services and the increasing interest of the public in avoiding exposure to the disease has led to a decrease in the number of hospital admissions.

The effects of the pandemic on patients with bladder cancer due to a decrease in emergency room and urology clinic admissions are not clear. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the EAU (European Association of Urology) panel of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer published an evidence-based guideline. According to this guideline, four priority groups were formed and a certain period of delaying treatment was defined for patients in each group according to their priorities.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 183

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Altindag
    • Ankara, Altindag, Turkey, 06230
      • Ankara Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer by transurethral resection in the urology clinic.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary bladder cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous history of urinary tract tumor
• Chronic kidney disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
COVID-19 Bladder Cancer; Patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer in the COVID-19 period	Behavioral: COVID-19 pandemic; Patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer by transurethral resection in the urology clinic during and before the COVID-19 pandemic will be retrospectively evaluated and compared.
PreCOVID-19 Bladder Cancer; Patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer in the preCOVID-19 period	Behavioral: COVID-19 pandemic; Patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer by transurethral resection in the urology clinic during and before the COVID-19 pandemic will be retrospectively evaluated and compared.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of tumor stages	Rate of tumor stages in patients who diagnosed with bladder cancer	2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara Training and Research Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Heldwein FL, Loeb S, Wroclawski ML, Sridhar AN, Carneiro A, Lima FS, Teoh JY. A Systematic Review on Guidelines and Recommendations for Urology Standard of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur Urol Focus. 2020 Sep 15;6(5):1070-1085. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2020.05.020. Epub 2020 Jun 5.
• Esperto F, Pang KH, Albisinni S, Papalia R, Scarpa RM. Bladder Cancer at the time of COVID-19 Outbreak. Int Braz J Urol. 2020 Jul;46(suppl.1):62-68. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2020.S107.
• Wallis CJD, Novara G, Marandino L, Bex A, Kamat AM, Karnes RJ, Morgan TM, Mottet N, Gillessen S, Bossi A, Roupret M, Powles T, Necchi A, Catto JWF, Klaassen Z. Risks from Deferring Treatment for Genitourinary Cancers: A Collaborative Review to Aid Triage and Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur Urol. 2020 Jul;78(1):29-42. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.04.063. Epub 2020 May 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): August 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 25, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 6, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Bladder cancer; COVID-19; Transurethral resection
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Neoplasms; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Urologic Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Urologic Diseases; Urinary Bladder Diseases; COVID-19; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: COVIDBC2021

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No