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The COVID-19 pandemic led to the imposition of a nationwide lockdown, which has affected every aspect of health care, including the delivery of standard care to cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient attendance at a radiotherapy department during the lockdown period.

This is a retrospective analysis of all patients planned for radiotherapy at the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat, Morocco from March 2nd, 2020 to June 20, 2020. The study cohort was divided into two groups: group A included patients who received radiotherapy during the control period and group B included patients undergoing radiotherapy during the lockdown period.

Patient compliance to radiotherapy during the lockdown period was measured and compared with that during the same period in 2019.

Data regarding age, sex, tumor site and treatment-related factors were analyzed and compared with those during the same period in 2019.

Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test.

A total of 753 patients were planned to receive radiotherapy during the study period. Of these, 640 patients, 348 in Group A and 302 in Group B, actually received radiotherapy during the study period. A 13.2% reduction in the number of treated patients and a 16.9% reduction in the number of sessions was observed. Age and sex distribution was similar in both groups. Breast, gynecological and head and neck cancers were the most common cancer types in both periods. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of breast cancers treated (P = 0.03). The proportion of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy increased significantly (P = 0.03). The planning technique was similar in both groups. Similar fractionation was used in both periods in patients treated with a curative intent, but there was a significant increase in the use of single-fraction radiation treatment in patients treated with palliative intent during period B (P = 0.006). Weekly concurrent chemotherapy protocols were replaced by triweekly regimens in period B. There was a significant difference in the compliance to radiotherapy (92.3% in group A and 86.4% in group B, P = 0.01). ). In group B, delays and interruptions were due to travel restrictions (58.5%) and fear of contamination (29.2%). No patient was tested positive for COVID-19 during radiotherapy during the study period.

Evaluating oncology practices in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic is essential to understand its real impact and to prepare for possible future crises. We observed a decrease in the number of treated patients during the lockdown despite our efforts to maintain the treatment routine. A significant decrease in radiotherapy compliance was noted during lockdown. The proportion of irradiated breast cancers decreased significantly during the lockdown. Patients treated with palliative intent increased significantly, with increased use of single-fraction palliative radiotherapy.