INCIDENCE OF CERVICAL CANCER EVIDENCED BY PAP SMEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19 IN A BRAZILIAN MUNICIPALITY

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1595112518022

• Palavras-chave: cervical cancer. covid-19. Pap smears

• Keywords: cervical cancer. covid-19. Pap smears

• Abstract:

  Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a substantial reduction in preventive healthcare, including HPV vaccines and cervical cancer (CC) screening. In addition, it is known that delays in screening, management and treatment of CC result in greater chances of progression to invasive neoplasia. Aim: to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CC screening in the city of Passos (MG) and, therefore, to correlate the number of cytopathology tests with the incidence levels carried out during this period. Methods: The database used for the search was PubMed and extensions were made to the Brazilian Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening, the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute (INCA). Therefore, the DataSUS website was used to correlate the number of cytopathological exams carried out between 2017 and 2021 with the incidence of CC during the same period of time in the municipality of Passos (MG). Discussion: Cytopathology tests for CC screening have been affected by delays in health services, infrastructure restrictions or negligence on the part of the patients themselves. This had an impact on CC screening worldwide, in some countries there was a stoppage, and at the national level, there was an even greater drop in screening in March 2020. Studies have shown a reduction in collections, which results in a delay in the diagnosis of CC. The municipality of Passense also suffered a reduction in prevention and screening services, showing a 56% drop in test collection. This shows that the pandemic has also hit the municipality and could cause future problems, such as the discovery of more advanced cases. Results: The DataSus and SISAB databases confirmed a decrease in the collection of preventive tests, at municipal and national level, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also observed that in 2021, with the gradual return to the collection of tests, there was an increase in cases of CC at the national level, a fact that can be justified by the postponement of cytopathological examination during the period of pandemic crisis. Conclusion: the incidence of CC has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality of Passos (MG), due to lower adherence to health services and consequently lower incorporation of CC screening strategies. However, this reality is expected to change after the pandemic ends.