Impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 no número de mamografias realizadas no SUS e sua relação com os novos casos de câncer de mama diagnosticados

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer (CAM) is the most common in women and is the main cause of mortality from breast cancer in several countries, including Brazil, despite decades of medical initiatives and public policies. Studies indicate that these rates remain high because the disease is still exposed in advanced stages. In addition to this problem, in 2019 the world suffered a COVID-19 pandemic that affected the population in different ways and made it impossible to access various health services. In this context, the study evaluates the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the number of mammograms performed by the SUS and on new cases of breast cancer reported during this period. Objective: To evaluate the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the number of mammograms performed in the SUS and the impact on new cases of breast cancer reported. Materials and method: Presenting as methodology an observational, descriptive and retrospective study, based on secondary data obtained from the Cancer Information System (SISCAN), from January 2019 to August 2023, available on the DATASUS platform. Results: Between April 2019 and March 2022, 61,498 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the SUS. The monthly values fluctuated, but there was no reduction in the COVID-19 pandemic. There were statistical differences in the number of new cases of breast cancer in the pre-pandemic period and the third after the advent of the pandemic. During this period, 11 million mammograms were also performed in the SUS and the maximum number was found in the months of October and November. In this, he reported that for each new case of breast cancer, 180 mammograms were detected per month. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is possible to highlight that there was a reduction in cases of breast cancer and mammograms performed during the pandemic period. However, the impact on the population cannot be quantifiable, requiring more effective and effective public policies for early diagnosis and efficient treatment with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality from breast cancer in Brazil.