Malignant neoplasms as a nosological cause of primary disability in the Russian Federation during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: In cases of health disorders secondary to malignant neoplasms that lead to social restrictions and the need for social protection measures, including rehabilitation, disability is established. This is the most important health indicator of the population. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the management of patients with malignant diseases, and a more severe course of COVID-19 commonly occurs in older age groups.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the dynamics and structure of primary disability caused by malignant neoplasms in the adult population in the Russian Federation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study object was a cohort with newly recognized disability caused by malignant neoplasms in the Russian Federation (by applying to the Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise). The main outcome was the occurrence of primary disability during the study period. Three age groups of the adult population (young, middle, and old) were analyzed. The study was conducted in 2010–2020. Research methods included documentary, data copying, and statistical and graphics analysis.

RESULTS: The dynamics of cancer-related primary disability in the Russian Federation was characterized by an annual increase in the number of people with disability from 180.2 thousand in 2010 to 214.6–222.2 thousand in 2017–2019; however, this number decreased to 196.5 thousand in 2020. The number of older people with primary disability was the highest, followed by middle-aged people with primary disability, and no significant change was found in the number of young people with primary disability. The proportion of people with secondary disability decreased, and those with tertiary disability increased, with a negative trend in the growth of the proportion of people with primary disability in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of disability caused by malignant neoplasms may not reflect the proportion of populations with persistent health disorders because residents were unable to present for medical consultations due to the restrictions caused by the spread of a new coronavirus infection. The scale and structure of primary disabilities caused by cancer become the scientific and practical basis for determining directions for developing healthcare and social protection services.