# Overview of care for head and neck Cancer cases in Brazilian Cancer Centers during the COVID-19 pandemic

## TL;DR

The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced healthcare services for head and neck cancer patients in Brazil.

## Contribution

This study provides insights into the impact of the pandemic on cancer care delivery in Brazilian centers.

## Key findings

- 10% of head and neck surgeons were infected with COVID-19.
- There was a significant reduction in consultations and surgeries during the pandemic.
- The reduction in care delivery is expected to persist and requires institutional efforts.

## Abstract

•The rate of Covid infection among staff members where the same among all centers.•The number of appointments decreased.•The number of surgeries decreased.

The rate of Covid infection among staff members where the same among all centers.

The number of appointments decreased.

The number of surgeries decreased.

To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck (H&N) oncology reference services.

This cross-sectional study evaluated data on the number of outpatient consultations, operations and infected physicians collected in 13 Brazilian Cancer Centers.

10% of the H&N surgeons had COVID-19 infection. Significant reduction in the average number of new treated cases (39.9%), consultations (63.1%) and surgeries (35.1%) was observed in April 2020 compared with those of the same period in 2019.

There was significant impairment in the delivery of care to H&N cancer patients during a month of pandemic. The observed reduction is expected to persist in the coming months and will require institutional efforts to adequately meet the demand imposed during the pandemic period.

Level IV.