Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast and cervical 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. A time series analysis was carried out to discover possible trends and outliers in the screening activities in the period 2017-2021. 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% [CI -49 to -37] was found for mammography screening. A short-term deficit of 62% [CI -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, for example, a marked drop in mammography screening towards the end of 2021, also seem unrelated to the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: Denmark continued cancer screening during the pandemic, but following the first lockdown a temporary drop was seen in breast and cervical screening activity.

FUNDING: Region Zealand (R22-A597).