Patterns of childhood cancer mortality in Hungary since the turn of the millennium, including the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Background: During the COVID-19 period health care had to be cut back which may also have affected the numbers and patterns of childhood cancer deaths in Hungary. We aimed to analyse the pattern of childhood cancer mortality among children under 15 years in Hungary. Death rates were compared during the periods 2020–2021 (pandemic) and 2001–2019 (non-pandemic). In addition, cyclical trends were examined. Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the nationwide population register. Monthly deaths were investigated using Walter–Elwood and Poisson regression methods. Results: Overall, 14,931 childhood deaths (1,092 from cancers) were registered between 2001-2021. The cancer mortality risk was significantly higher among boys than girls. Furthermore, this risk was significantly lower in older age groups (5–14 years) than in the under-5 group (IRR = 0.816; 95% CI: 0.756–0.879; p < 0.001). A significantly decreasing trend was detected for yearly childhood cancer mortality rates with an annual IRR of 0.976 (95% CI: 0.966–0.986; p < 0.001). This tendency was not influenced by the pandemic. However, different patterns of seasonal variation were revealed in childhood cancer mortality rates during 2020–2021 and 2001–2019. Conclusions: Although the annual trend in childhood cancer mortality was not affected by the coronavirus pandemic, there was a significant change in the pattern of childhood cancer mortality during the pandemic and non-pandemic period in Hungary. The seasonal variation of monthly childhood cancer mortality rates suggests that environmental factors play an important role in the aetiology of childhood cancer deaths.