A recent study has found that Hurricanes Irma and Maria, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, caused significant delays in colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses in Puerto Rico.
The research, published in CANCER, shows that CRC diagnoses dropped during these crises, with a rise in late-stage cases, suggesting that limited access to health care hindered timely detection.
The study analyzed data from Puerto Rico’s Central Cancer Registry between 2012 and 2021. Researchers found that, during the hurricanes, only 82 CRC cases were diagnosed, far below the expected 161.4. A similar decline occurred during the COVID-19 lockdown, with only 50 CRC cases diagnosed, compared to the expected 162.5.
By the study’s end, the number of early-stage CRC diagnoses and patients aged 50-75 (the recommended screening age) was lower than expected, while late-stage diagnoses and cases in patients outside the recommended age range were higher.
Experts suggest that these disruptions in medical services may have worsened health outcomes, especially in a region like Puerto Rico, which already faces health system challenges. Researchers call for improved health care policies to strengthen care delivery during crises and ensure early cancer detection and treatment.
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