• Gabriel Veniamin Cozma, Calin Muntean, Alaviana Monique Faur, Vasile Gaborean, Ioan Adrian Petrache, and Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier.
• Thoracic Surgery Research Center, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timişoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, Romania.
• Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Jun 11; 60 (6).

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical treatment of lung cancer patients. Data from patients who underwent surgery during the pandemic were analyzed and compared to pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Multiple parameters were examined, and their changes yielded significant results compared to other periods of the study. The statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in the number of surgical interventions during the pandemic (p < 0.001), followed by a significant rebound thereafter. During this period, there was a significant increase in the T stage of cancer compared to both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods (p = 0.027). Additionally, the mean Charlson comorbidity index score was significantly higher during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (p = 0.042). In this crisis period, a significant decrease was recorded in both the total hospitalization duration (p = 0.015) and the pre-operative hospitalization duration (p = 0.006). These findings provide evidence of significant changes in clinical and therapeutic strategies applied to lung cancer surgery patients during the study period. The pandemic has had a substantial and complex impact, the full extent of which remains to be fully understood.

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