Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer screening in Denmark: A register-based study

Background
Denmark was one of the few countries where it was politically decided to continue cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the actual population uptake of mammography and cervical screening during this period.

Methods
The first COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark was announced on 11 March 2020. To investigate possible changes in cancer screening activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we analysed data from the beginning of 2017 until the end of 2021, searching for trends and outliers in the activity throughout this period, particularly after the first lockdown. Data on mammography screening and cervical screening were retrieved from governmental pandemic-specific monitoring of health care activities.

Results
A brief drop was seen in screening activity right after the first COVID-19 lockdown, but the activity quickly returned to its previous level. A short-term deficit of 43% [-49 to -37] was found for mammography screening. A short-term deficit of 62% [-65 to -58] was found for cervical screening. Furthermore, a slight, statistically significant downward trend in cervical screening from 2018 to 2021 was probably unrelated to the pandemic. Other changes, e.g. a marked drop in mammography screening towards the end of 2021, also seem unrelated to the pandemic.

Conclusions
The policy in Denmark of continuing cancer screening during the pandemic was implemented very effectively.