COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Colorectal Cancer Surgical Patients in Brazil

Strategic Insights -

Researchers have been studying the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical procedures, including colorectal cancer surgeries, in a hospital in southern Brazil. The study, published in Frontiers in Surgery, aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on mortality and clinical condition of colorectal tumor patients. The study found that COVID-19 infection was associated with increased 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and intensive care unit admission. However, the pandemic period did not significantly influence overall mortality or 30-day mortality, nor did it affect the incidence of advanced cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in surgical procedures, including non-emergency operations, resulting in a significant decrease in volume.
  • The study evaluated 263 adult patients with colorectal tumors who underwent surgery between January 2019 and March 2020 (pre-pandemic period) and between March 2020 and April 2021 (pandemic period).
  • Coronavirus infection was associated with increased 30-day mortality, death, length of stay, and admission to the intensive care unit.
  • Logistic regression confirmed that during the pandemic period, emergency surgeries increased but did not affect advanced cancer progression or 30-day mortality in cancer patients.
  • The study concluded that maintaining surgical operations during pandemic periods is critical to ensure patient outcomes.
  • The research team included Tierre Aguiar Goncales, Pathology Post Graduation Program from Federal University of Health Sciences (Universidade Federal de Ciencias da Saude de Porto Alegre), as the lead author.
  • Additional authors for this research include Thiago Lucas Bastos de Melo Moszkowicz, Mariana Severo Debastiani, Gabriela Klein Herwig, Laura Martin Manfroi, Carolina de Moura Marolli, Rafael Jose Vargas Alves, and Claudia Giuliano Bica.

Statistics:

  • The study included 263 patients, with 145 (55.1%) undergoing surgery during the pandemic period and 118 (44.9%) in the pre-pandemic period.
  • COVID-19 infection was associated with increased 30-day mortality (23.4%) compared to non-infected patients (8.5%).
  • The pandemic period resulted in an increase in emergency surgeries (55.1% vs 44.9% in the pre-pandemic period).
  • The study found that hospital stay was longer for patients with COVID-19 infection (14.5 days vs 9.5 days for non-infected patients).

Sources:

  • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of colorectal cancer surgical patients treated at a public hospital in Southern Brazil. Frontiers in Surgery, 2025;12:1591216.
  • NewsRx. New COVID-19 Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Tierre Aguiar Goncales and Co-Researchers (Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of colorectal cancer surgical patients treated at a public hospital in Southern Brazil). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. August 17, 2025; p 69.