Screening programs have been associated with a substantial reduction in colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality through endoscopic resection of preneoplastic lesions and detection of early-stage invasive cancers.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared as a pandemic the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2. Since then, the SARS-CoV-2 have never stopped spreading, causing an unprecedented situation with highly restrictive considerations to be adopted by the majority of countries worldwide.

Health-care facilities have been making an enormous effort to assist patients affected by COVID-19, while adopting measures to maintain a safe environment for patients and healthcare professionals. As a result, the usual workflow in endoscopy departments changed dramatically, leading to an increase in cancelled procedures, probably increasing the future burden of Colorectal Cancer due to delays in diagnosis.

• patients who underwent colonoscopy between the 1st October 2020 and the 31st December 2020 (pandemic cohort)
• patients who underwent colonoscopy between the 1st October 2019 and the 31st December 2019 (pre-pandemic cohort)

All patients who underwent colonoscopy between the 1st October 2020 and the 31st December 2020 (pandemic cohort), and all patients who underwent colonoscopy between the 1st October 2019 and the 31st December 2019 (pre-pandemic cohort).