Examining the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on population-based breast cancer screening in Ireland

Q: What was the objective of the study on breast screening in Ireland?

To describe screening mammography utilisation and the pattern of screen-detected breast cancer diagnoses after COVID-19-related disruptions.

Q: How were the study periods defined and what data were used?

Three time periods were examined (Jan–Dec 2019, 2020, and 2021) using anonymous aggregate data from women invited for routine screening.

Q: What key changes occurred in 2020 and what recovered by 2021?

Mammography capacity fell substantially in 2020 compared with 2019, and invasive cancer grade distributions changed; capacity recovered during 2021 with recovery evident in the results.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Many population-based breast screening programmes suspended routine mammography after the COVID-19 pandemic began. This study characterises mammography utilisation and the distribution of screen-detected breast cancer diagnoses in Ireland across three periods: 2019, 2020, and 2021. Aggregate invitee data were analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-square comparisons. In 2020, mammography capacity decreased markedly versus 2019 and grade patterns shifted early in the pandemic, with partial recovery in 2021.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Examining the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on population-based breast cancer screening in Ireland Jessica O’Driscoll 1 , Therese Mooney2, Paul Kearney2, Yvonne Williams3, Suzanne Lynch4, Alissa Connors4, Aideen Larke4, Sorcha McNally4, Ann O’Doherty4, Laura Murphy4, Kathleen E. Bennett 1, Patricia Fitzpatrick2,5, Maeve Mullooly 1, and Fidelma Flanagan4 J Med Screen 2024, Vol. 31(3) 182–190 © The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/09691413241232899](DOI: 10.1177/09691413241232899)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/09691413241232899)[journals.sagepub.com/home/msc](journals.sagepub.com/home/msc) Abstract Objective: Many population-based breast screening programmes temporarily suspended routine screening following the COVID-19 pandemic onset. This study aimed to describe screening mammography utilisation and the pattern of screen-detected breast cancer diagnoses following COVID-19-related screening disruptions in Ireland. Methods: Using anonymous aggregate data from women invited for routine screening, three time periods were examined: (1) January–December 2019,(2) January–December 2020, and (3) January–December 2021 . Descriptive statistics were conducted and comparisons between groups were performed using chi-square tests. Results: In 2020, screening mammography capacity fell by 67.1% compared to 2019; recovering to 75% of mammograms performed in 2019, during 2021 . Compared to 2019, for screen-detected invasive breast cancers, a reduction in Grade 1 (14.2% vs. 17.2%) and Grade 2 tumours (53.4% vs. 58.0%) and an increase in Grade 3 tumours (32.4% vs. 24.8%) was observed in 2020 (p = 0.03); whereas an increase in Grade 2 tumours (63.3% vs. 58.0%) and a reduction in Grade 3 tumours (19.6% vs. 24.8%) was found in 2021 (p = 0.02). No changes in oestrogen receptor-positive or nodal-positive diagnoses were observed; however the proportion of oestrogen/progesterone receptor-positive breast cancers signiﬁcantly increased in 2020 (76.2%; p<0.01) and 2021 (78.7%; p<0.001) compared to 2019 (67.8%). Conclusion: These ﬁndings demonstrate signs of a grade change for screen-detected invasive breast cancers early in the pandemic, with recovery evident in 2021, and without an increase in nodal positivity. Future studies are needed to determine the COVID-19 impact on long-term breast cancer outcomes including mortality. Keywords COVID-19, breast screening, mammography Date received: 8 September 2023; revised: 8 December 2023; accepted: 23 January 2024 Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had many indirect health impacts globally including the temporary suspension of many organised breast screening programmes (BSPs) for various time periods.1 Breast cancer screening aims to reduce breast cancer mortality2 and, depending on the organised BSP, asymptomatic women are typically invited for biennial 1 School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland 2National Screening Service, Dublin, Ireland 3Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland 4BreastCheck, National Screening Service, Ireland 5School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland mammography screening. In response to the public health and government healthcare strategies adopted by individual countries and jurisdictions in March 2020, suspension of routine breast screening occurred and the length of disruption varied internationally ranging from one month to six months, depending on the public health advice in each country.3 Corresponding author: Jessica O’Driscoll, School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland. Email: [jessicaodriscol20@rcsi.com](jessicaodriscol20@rcsi.com) While the long-term impact of the pandemic on breast cancer incidence and mortality has yet

FAQs

What was the objective of the study on breast screening in Ireland?

To describe screening mammography utilisation and the pattern of screen-detected breast cancer diagnoses after COVID-19-related disruptions.

How were the study periods defined and what data were used?

Three time periods were examined (Jan–Dec 2019, 2020, and 2021) using anonymous aggregate data from women invited for routine screening.

What key changes occurred in 2020 and what recovered by 2021?

Mammography capacity fell substantially in 2020 compared with 2019, and invasive cancer grade distributions changed; capacity recovered during 2021 with recovery evident in the results.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver