Abstract P068

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Armenia: Diagnostic Delays and the Unintended Benefits of COVID-19 Screening

Background: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a highly treatable malignancy, yet timely diagnosis and initiation of treatment are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. This study examines the impact of diagnostic delays - specifically, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment initiation - on treatment success among Armenian patients with HL, with a focus on the years 2019 to 2023, a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients treated at the Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center in Armenia between 2019 and 2023. Patient records were meticulously reviewed to collect data on demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, duration from symptom onset to diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes.

Results: Among the 368 patients analyzed (55.3% males and 44.7% females). Incidence rates of HL have stayed flat since the 2014-2023, but mortality rates have steadily declined from 14% cases in 2014-2018 to 9.5% in 2019-2023. The median duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 2/6 weeks/months. Patients experiencing prolonged delays in diagnosis were more likely to present with advanced-stage disease compared to those with shorter diagnostic intervals. Additionally, delayed diagnosis correlated with significant delays in treatment initiation. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic period from 2020 to 2023 contributed to a reduction in diagnostic delays, as the surge in chest CT scans due to COVID-19 led to earlier detection of HL. In 2020, this increased vigilance completely eliminated diagnostic delays in some cases. No statistically significant increase in treatment complications and mortality rates was observed in the post-COVID period compared to previous years.

Conclusion: The study highlights the critical importance of minimizing diagnostic delays in Hodgkin's lymphoma to prevent advanced disease presentation and ensure timely treatment initiation. Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic inadvertently facilitated earlier detection of HL in Armenia due to the widespread use of chest CT scans. This finding underscores the potential benefits of routine imaging in high-risk populations. Future efforts should focus on maintaining prompt diagnostic pathways and leveraging advancements in imaging technology to improve early detection and treatment outcomes for Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients.

Authors

Lusine Sahakyan, Diana Soghomonyan, Astghik Voskanyan, Arev Stepanyan, Lusine Stepanyan, Marina Melik-Andreasyan, Levon Evoyan, Miranush Saaryan