Understanding the long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of lung cancer: a retrospective community hospital experience

Q: What long-term impact of COVID-19 was examined in this study?

The study examined long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of lung cancer care for patients undergoing surgical resection at a thoracic surgery program.

Q: How were patients grouped for analysis?

Patients were categorized into three cohorts based on surgery period: prepandemic (2018–2019), COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), and postpandemic (2023–2024).

Q: Did the pandemic cause delays in surgical care for lung cancer?

No significant delays in surgical care for lung cancer were found during the COVID-19 pandemic, and timelines to surgery may have been expedited by increased resource allocation.

Sep 22, 2026

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Cancer care was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting evaluation of long-term effects on lung cancer management at a thoracic surgery program. A retrospective cohort study included all patients undergoing lung resection for cancer at Michael Garron Hospital from 2018 to 2024, divided into prepandemic, pandemic, and postpandemic cohorts. Analysis assessed demographics, consent-to-surgery timing, length of stay, multimodal treatment, and pathological stage. No significant surgical delays were found across pandemic periods.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

RESEARCH • RECHERCHE Understanding the long-lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of lung cancer: a retrospective community hospital experience Gursharan Sohi, MDAarya Gore, MDS Najib Safieddine, MD Sayf Gazala, MD Carmine Simone, MD Negar Ahmadi, MD, MPH Accepted Feb. 18, 2026 Correspondence to: N. Ahmadi Michael Garron Hospital Chest Centre 825 Coxwell Ave. Toronto ON M4C 3E7 [negar.ahmadi@tehn.ca](negar.ahmadi@tehn.ca) Cite as: Can J Surg 2026 May 12;69(3) . doi: 10.1503/cjs.015925 Background: Cancer care was negatively affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to examine the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of lung cancer care among patients undergoing surgical resection at our thoracic surgery program. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent lung resection for cancer at Michael Garron Hospital between 2018 and 2024. We categorized patients into 3 cohorts: prepandemic (2018 to 2019), COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2022), and postpandemic (2023 to 2024) . We analyzed demographic characteristics, time to surgery, length of stay, multimodal treatment, and pathological stage. Results: We included 1090 patients. The time from consent to surgery was shorter in the pandemic cohort (26 v. 29 d; p < 0.01) . Length of stay was also shorter during the pandemic and postpandemic periods (median 2 v. 3 d; p < 0.001) . A higher proportion of patients presented with advanced-stage lung cancer (stage III) in the prepandemic cohort than in the other cohorts (15% v. 9%, p < 0.05) . Conclusion: We found no significant delays in surgical care for lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Timelines to surgery may have been expedited owing to increased resource allocation. Through further study of adaptive mechanisms used during the pandemic, we can continue to provide increasingly effective and efficient lung cancer care. Contexte : La pandémie de COVID-19 a occasionné des perturbations des soins contre le cancer. Nous avons cherché à examiner les effets à long terme de cette pandémie sur les schémas de prise en charge du cancer du poumon chez la patientèleayant subi une résection chirurgicale dans le cadre de notre programme de chirurgie thoracique. Méthodes : Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte rétrospective portant sur la patientèle ayant subi une résection pulmonaire à la suite d’un cancer au Michael Garron Hospital entre 2018 et 2024. Nous avons réparti la patientèle en 3 cohortes : prépandémique (2018 à 2019), pandémique (2020 à 2022) et postpandémique (2023 à 2024) . Nous avons analysé les caractéristiques démographiques, le temps d’attente pour l’intervention chirurgicale, la durée d’hospitalisation, le traitement multimodal et le stade pathologique. Résultats : Nous avons inclus 1090 patients et patientes. Le délai d’attente entre le consentement et l’intervention chirurgicale était plus court dans la cohorte pandémique (26 j c. 29 j; p < 0,01) . La durée d’hospitalisation était également plus courte pendant les périodes pandémique et postpandémique (temps médian de 2 j c. 3 j; p < 0,001) . Une proportion plus élevée de la patientèle présentait un cancer du poumon à un stade avancé (stade III) dans la cohorte prépandémique par rapport aux autres cohortes (15 % c. 9 %;p < 0,05) . Conclusion : Nous n’avons constaté aucun retard significatif dans la prise en charge chirurgicale du cancer du poumon pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 . Il est possible que les délais d’attente pour l’intervention chirurgicale aient été réduits grâce à une allocation accrue des ressources . En approfondissant l’étude des mécanismesd’adaptation utilisés pendant la pandémie, nous pourrons continuer à fournir des soins de plus en plus efficaces et efficients contre le cancer du poumon. E258 Can J Surg/J can chir 2026;69(3) © 2026 CMA Impact Inc. or its licensors RESEARCH L ung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death ar

FAQs

What long-term impact of COVID-19 was examined in this study?

The study examined long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of lung cancer care for patients undergoing surgical resection at a thoracic surgery program.

How were patients grouped for analysis?

Patients were categorized into three cohorts based on surgery period: prepandemic (2018–2019), COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), and postpandemic (2023–2024).

Did the pandemic cause delays in surgical care for lung cancer?

No significant delays in surgical care for lung cancer were found during the COVID-19 pandemic, and timelines to surgery may have been expedited by increased resource allocation.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Terk