Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric patients with cancer in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: protocol for a multicentre, international, observational cohort study. Issue 6 (2nd June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peter, Noel; Bandyopadhyay, Soham; Lakhoo, Kokila
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Peter Noel author non-byline.; Lakhoo Kokila author non-byline.; Bandyopadhyay Soham author non-byline.; Abib Simone author non-byline.; Abdelhafeez Hafeez author non-byline.; Wilson Shaun author non-byline.; Pachl Max author non-byline.; Martin Benjamin author non-byline.; Nagras Sonal author non-byline.; Sheth Mihir author non-byline.; Dominic Catherine author non-byline.; Gandhi Suraj author non-byline.; Parwani Divya author non-byline.; Raj Rhea author non-byline.; Munezero Diella author non-byline.; Dutta Rohini author non-byline.; Roseline Nsimire Mulanga author non-byline.; McClafferty Kellie author non-byline.; Nazari Armin author non-byline.; Sriram Smrithi author non-byline.; Pillarisetti Sai author non-byline.; Nweze King-David author non-byline.; Ashwinee Aishwarya author non-byline.; Kalra Gul author non-byline.; Patil Poorvaprabha author non-byline.; Nathani Priyansh author non-byline.; Bhullar Khushman Kaur author non-byline.; Elhadi Muhammed author non-byline.; Khan Maryam author non-byline.; Rahim Nehal author non-byline.; Madhusudanan Shweta author non-byline.; Erhabor Joshua author non-byline.; Shirke Manasi author non-byline.; Mughal Aishah author non-byline.; Au Darica author non-byline.; Salehi Mahan author non-byline.; Royyuru Sravani author non-byline.; Ahmed Mohamed author non-byline.; Hussain Syeda Namayah Fatima author non-byline.; Robinson Daniel author non-byline.; Casey Anna author non-byline.; Khan Mehdi author non-byline.; Dukundane Alexandre author non-byline.; Festus Kwizera author non-byline.; Govind Vaishnavi author non-byline.; Pancharatnam Rohan author non-byline.; Ochieng Lorraine author non-byline.; Taylor Elliott H author non-byline.; Nautiyal Hritik author non-byline.; Crespo Marta de Andres author non-byline.; Charuvila Somy author non-byline.; Valetopoulou Alexandra author non-byline.;
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 11:Issue 6(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-02
• Subjects: paediatrics -- oncology -- international health services -- organisation of health services; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045679
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Childhood cancers are a leading cause of non-communicable disease deaths for children around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted on global children's cancer services, which can have consequences for childhood cancer outcomes. The Global Health Research Group on Children's Non-Communicable Diseases is currently undertaking the first international cohort study to determine the variation in paediatric cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the short-term to medium-term impacts on childhood cancer outcomes. Methods and analysis: This is a multicentre, international cohort study that will use routinely collected hospital data in a deidentified and anonymised form. Patients will be recruited consecutively into the study, with a 12-month follow-up period. Patients will be included if they are below the age of 18 years and undergoing anticancer treatment for the following cancers: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Wilms tumour, sarcoma, retinoblastoma, gliomas, medulloblastomas and neuroblastomas. Patients must be newly presented or must be undergoing active anticancer treatment from 12 March 2020 to 12 December 2020. The primary objective of the study was to determine all-cause mortality rates of 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. This study will examine the factors that influenced these outcomes. χ 2 analysis will be used to compare mortality between low-income and middle-income countries and high-income countries. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression analysis will be undertaken to identify patient-level and hospital-level factors affecting outcomes with adjustment for confounding factors. Ethics and dissemination: At the host centre, this study was deemed to be exempt from ethical committee approval due to the use of anonymised registry data. At other centres, participating collaborators have gained local approvals in accordance with their institutional ethical regulations. Collaborators will be encouraged to present the results locally, nationally and internationally. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.