As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global healthcare systems, mesothelioma diagnoses in the Netherlands experienced a significant 13.2% decline. A just-released Dutch study has analyzed the journey of 2,629 pleural mesothelioma patients, revealing how pandemic-related healthcare disruptions impacted the patterns of care.
Mesothelioma Treatment Patterns Shifted During Crisis
In 2020, mesothelioma patients around the world experienced significant changes in how the disease was managed. According to the study, 58.8% of mesothelioma patients in the Netherlands were only provided with best supportive care. This represents the highest percentage recorded during the 2018-2022 study period. Chemotherapy use declined from 39.4% to 32.0%, a drop attributed to healthcare systems prioritizing essential services and postponing non-emergent procedures in line with recommendations to delay chemotherapy for mildly symptomatic patients during the acute pandemic phase.
In 2021, mesothelioma diagnoses rose by 15.2% as healthcare systems adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic. This rebound occurred at the same time that the Netherlands introduced immunotherapy as a first-line treatment. Despite these treatment advances, including the use of ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy, real-world survival outcomes remained modest compared to the expected results based on clinical trial results.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates Remain Stable
Mesothelioma patients had stable overall survival rates throughout the study period, with median survival ranging from 8.5 to 10.0 months between 2018-2022, and no statistically significant difference in survival despite the treatment disruptions and delays. The percentage of mesothelioma patients who died each year fluctuated between 17.6% and 21.3%, a notable level of stability in the face of the significant shifts in diagnosis and treatment.
As was true of other respiratory cancers, mesothelioma diagnosis was particularly challenging during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as the similarity between symptoms of coronavirus and the rare form of cancer led to both misdiagnosis and delayed referrals. Patient avoidance of hospitals due to infection fears was also a factor, and when combined with reduced availability of lab and pathology personnel during the pandemic, likely contributed to underdiagnosis. Some mesothelioma cases may have been incorrectly classified under COVID-19 in mortality statistics.
While many worried that the disruptions in diagnosis and treatment caused by the pandemic would lead to increased mesothelioma deaths, the relatively stable patient outcomes demonstrate the healthcare system’s resilience, as well as the challenges of achieving a significant improvement in outcomes for patients diagnosed with the aggressive form of cancer.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you need assistance, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here for you. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
