Objective:

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of new renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnoses, age and disease stage, treatment approaches, and surgical capacity in hospitals in the Netherlands.

Key Findings:

• A 30% decline in RCC diagnoses during the 1st COVID wave, followed by a 20% decrease in subsequent periods, indicating a significant disruption in early detection.
• Overall, RCC diagnoses in 2020 were 10% lower than expected based on 2018/2019 data, highlighting the pandemic's impact on cancer care.
• The decline in diagnoses was primarily due to a decrease in T1a/T1b tumors, particularly affecting elderly patients (>70 years), which is critical for understanding treatment delays.
• In 2021, the number of new RCC diagnoses returned to levels comparable to 2018/2019, suggesting a recovery in cancer care.

Interpretation:

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted renal cancer care, leading to delayed diagnoses and changes in treatment patterns, particularly affecting early-stage tumors and older patients, which may have long-term implications for patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to data from the Netherlands and may not be generalizable to other regions.
• The reliance on registry data may not capture all nuances of patient care and outcomes, potentially introducing biases.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on renal cancer care, with significant declines in diagnoses and alterations in treatment approaches, particularly during the initial waves of the pandemic, necessitating a reevaluation of care strategies moving forward.