Participating Site and Research Team

Ngueyanouba Calvin Djiraimadje
Dr. Nadia Roumeliotis
Dr. Hallie Coltin

Quebec
CHU Sainte-Justine Research Institute (Montreal)

What Do We Want To Know?

Did the incidence and severity of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer cases in Canada change before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic?

• The incidence of newly diagnosed pediatric cancer cases decreased during the early pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period.

• The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in the severity of presentation among children newly diagnosed with cancer in Canada.

How Are We Doing It?

This study will use national hospital administrative data from Canada to examine newly diagnosed pediatric cancer cases before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We will compare incidence rates across time periods and assess markers of severity at presentation, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay, and early hospital readmission. Multivariable regression models will be used to evaluate whether the pandemic period was associated with changes in incidence and severity, while adjusting for age, cancer type, geographic location, and socioeconomic deprivation.

When Will I Be Needed?

The research uses existing national hospital data and does not involve direct patient contact. Data analysis will be conducted during 2026–2027 as part of a master’s thesis.

How Is The Project Going?

The study is currently in the protocol development and ethics approval phase. Data extension requests are being prepared. Results are expected to be available upon completion of data analysis at the end of 2026.

Who Can Participate?

This study does not involve direct participant recruitment. It uses anonymized national hospital administrative data.

The study population includes all children and adolescents (aged 0–17 years) hospitalized with a newly diagnosed cancer in Canadian provinces and territories, excluding Quebec, during the study period (before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic).