Page 129 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº1

Figure 6
Time intervals in the two groups (in weeks)

Abbreviations: ∆t, time interval; IQR, interquartile range

Table 3
Time interval between diagnosis and treatment (in weeks)

Group A Group B
Type of treatment (Pre-COVID-19) (Post-COVID-19) p-value*
Median (IQR) Median (IQR)
Surgical treatment 9 (6) 5 (4) 0,009
Non-surgical treatment 7,5 (3) 7 (6) 0,317
* Chi-square test
Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range

emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic patients with HNC, after the surge of the
inevitably led to a restructuring of health COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study,
services, which translated into the relocation it was observed that more than half of the
of professionals to areas dedicated to COVID-19 patients received their first clinical evaluation
activities, suspension of consultations in the emergency department in both pre-
and scheduled surgeries, and compulsory and post-COVID-19 periods. Odynophagia and
screening for severe acute respiratory dysphonia were the most frequently reported
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) before presenting symptoms in the pre-COVID-19
surgical procedures. All these limitations and post-COVID-19 periods, respectively.
have raised concerns about possible delays This difference may be explained by the fact
in the diagnosis and start of treatment of that after the pandemic, many patients with

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