Background and importance The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on cancer diagnosis and treatment worldwide.

Aim and objectives To describe patients in oncology treatments comparing 2019, 2020, and 2021 to September 2021.

Material and methods A descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary hospital from January 2019 to September 2021. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing parenteral and oral oncology treatment. Variables were: gender, age, diagnosis, patients with oral and parenteral oncology treatments dispensed by the Pharmacy Service. Data were collected from the electronic medical record (FarmaTools).

Results During the study period, 1010 patients were treated with parenteral and 402 with oral antineoplastics. The average age was 67±23.7 years (51.6% male). In the group of parenteral treatments the main diagnoses in 2019 were: vesical carcinoma (VC) (14%), metastasic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) non-squamous (NS) noALK noEGFR (7.1%) and metastatic KRAS and NRAS mutated colorectal cancer (mCC) (6%); in 2020 were VC (13%), mNSCLC NS noALK noEGFR (6.2%) and adjuvance in breast cancer (mBC) noHER2 and positive hormonal receptor (+HR) (5.6%); and in 2021 (to September) VC (9%), metastasic NSCLC NS noALK noEGFR (5,9%) and KRAS and NRAS mutated mCC (5.9%). In treatment with oral antineoplasics in 2019: adjuvance CC (27.6%), mBC noHER2 +HR (20%) and metastasic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) (10.5%); in 2020 mBC noHER2 +HR (20%), adjuvance CC (12.5%) and mCRPC (10.5%); and in 2021 mBC noHER2 +HR (21%), adjuvance CC (11.8%) and mCRPC (7.8%). 364 patients were treated by an intravenous route in 2021, 356 in 2020 and 290 in 2021. 105 patients were treated by oral treatment in 2019, 144 in 2020 and 153 in 2021. Patients treated in metastasic stages were 241 in 2019, 254 in 2020 and 234 in 2021.

Conclusion and relevance In 2020, there was a decrease in patients treated with KRAS and NRAS mutated mCC and an increase in adjuvance BC. Regarding oral treatment, patients on adjuvant treatment with colorectal cancer decreased in 2020. The increase in the number of patients on oral treatments from 2019 to 2021 is notable, and the important role that telemedicine has had from 2020 and the home delivery of medication by pharmacy services, thus reducing hospital visits. Further studies are needed to confirm this.

Conflict of interest No conflict of interest