Registration of lung cancer in Scotland: an assessment of data accuracy based on review of medical records

Second primary cancer risk - the impact of applying different definitions of multiple primaries: results from a retrospective population-based cancer registry study

Background

There is evidence that cancer survivors are at increased risk of second primary cancers. Changes in the prevalence of risk factors and diagnostic techniques may have affected more recent risks.

Methods

We examined the incidence of second primary cancer among adults in the West of Scotland, UK, diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2004 (n = 57,393). We used National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results and International Agency for Research on Cancer definitions of multiple primary cancers and estimated indirectly standardised incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

There was a high incidence of cancer during the first 60 days following diagnosis (SIR = 2.36, 95% CI = 2.12 to 2.63). When this period was excluded the risk was not raised, but it was high for some patient groups; in particular women aged <50 years with breast cancer (SIR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.58 to 2.78), patients with bladder (SIR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19 to 1.67) and head & neck (SIR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.67 to 2.21) cancer. Head & neck cancer patients had increased risks of lung cancer (SIR = 3.75, 95% CI = 3.01 to 4.62), oesophageal (SIR = 4.62, 95% CI = 2.73 to 7.29) and other head & neck tumours (SIR = 6.10, 95% CI = 4.17 to 8.61). Patients with bladder cancer had raised risks of lung (SIR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.88) and prostate (SIR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.72 to 3.30) cancer.

Conclusions

Relative risks of second primary cancers may be smaller than previously reported. Premenopausal women with breast cancer and patients with malignant melanomas, bladder and head & neck cancers may benefit from increased surveillance and advice to avoid known risk factors.

Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: a 40-year cohort study

PURPOSE

Cannabis (marijuana) smoke and tobacco smoke contain many of the same potent carcinogens, but a critical-yet unresolved-medical and public-health issue is whether cannabis smoking might facilitate the development of lung cancer. The current study aimed to assess the risk of lung cancer among young marijuana users.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study examined men (n = 49,321) aged 18-20 years old assessed for cannabis use and other relevant variables during military conscription in Sweden in 1969-1970. Participants were tracked until 2009 for incident lung cancer outcomes in nationwide linked medical registries. Cox regression modeling assessed relationships between cannabis smoking, measured at conscription, and the hazard of subsequently receiving a lung cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

At the baseline conscription assessment, 10.5 % (n = 5,156) reported lifetime use of marijuana and 1.7 % (n = 831) indicated lifetime use of more than 50 times, designated as "heavy" use. Cox regression analyses (n = 44,284) found that such "heavy" cannabis smoking was significantly associated with more than a twofold risk (hazard ratio 2.12, 95 % CI 1.08-4.14) of developing lung cancer over the 40-year follow-up period, even after statistical adjustment for baseline tobacco use, alcohol use, respiratory conditions, and socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION

Our primary finding provides initial longitudinal evidence that cannabis use might elevate the risk of lung cancer. In light of the widespread use of marijuana, especially among adolescents and young adults, our study provides important data for informing the risk-benefit calculus of marijuana smoking in medical, public-health, and drug-policy settings.

Inhaled corticosteroids and risk of lung cancer among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Lung cancer is a frequent cause of death among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined whether the use of inhaled corticosteroids among patients with COPD was associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer.

METHODS

We performed a cohort study of United States veterans enrolled in primary care clinics between December 1996 and May 2001. Participants had received treatment for, had an International Classification of Disease, 9th edition, diagnosis of, or a self-reported diagnosis of COPD. Patients with a history of lung cancer were excluded. To be exposed, patients must have been at least 80% adherent to inhaled corticosteroids. We used Cox regression models to estimate the risk of cancer and adjust for potential confounding factors.

FINDINGS

We identified 10,474 patients with a median follow-up of 3.8 years. In comparison to nonusers of inhaled corticosteroids, adjusting for age, smoking status, smoking intensity, previous history of non-lung cancer malignancy, coexisting illnesses, and bronchodilator use, there was a dose-dependent decreased risk of lung cancer associated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS dose < 1,200 mug/d: adjusted HR, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-1.90; ICS dose >or= 1,200 microg/d: adjusted HR, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.96). Changes in cohort definitions had minimal effects on the estimated risk. Analyses examining confounding by indication suggest biases in the opposite direction of the described effects.

INTERPRETATION

Results suggest that inhaled corticosteroids may have a potential role in lung cancer prevention among patients with COPD. These initial findings require confirmation in separate and larger cohorts.

Accuracy of coding for possible warfarin complications in hospital discharge abstracts

BACKGROUND

Hospital discharge abstracts could be used to identify complications of warfarin if coding for bleeding and thromboembolic events are accurate.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9CM) codes for bleeding and thromboembolic diagnoses.

SETTING

University affiliated, tertiary care hospital in Ottawa, Canada.

PATIENTS

A random sample of patients discharged between September 1999 and September 2000 with an ICD-9-CM code indicating a bleeding or thromboembolic diagnosis.

METHODS

Gold-standard coding was determined by a trained chart abstractor using explicit standard diagnostic criteria for bleeding, major bleeding, and acute thromboembolism. The abstractor was blinded to the original coding. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the original ICD-9CM codes for bleeding or thromboembolism diagnoses.

RESULTS

We reviewed 616 medical records. 361 patients (59%) had a code indicating a bleeding diagnosis, 291 patients (47%) had a code indicating a thromboembolic diagnosis and 36 patients (6%) had a code indicating both. According to the gold standard criteria, 352 patients experienced bleeding, 333 experienced major bleeding, and 188 experienced an acute thromboembolism. For bleeding, the ICD-9CM codes had the following sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values [95% CI]: 93% [90-96], 88% [83-91], 91% [88-94], and 91% [87-94], respectively. For major bleeding, the ICD-9CM codes had the following sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values: 94% [91-96], 83% [78-87], 87% [83-90], and 92% [88-95], respectively. For thromboembolism, the ICD-9CM codes had the following sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values: 97% [94-99], 74% [70-79], 62% [57-68], and 98% [96-99], respectively. By selecting a sub-group of ICD-9CM codes for thromboembolism, the positive predictive value increased to 87%.

CONCLUSION

In our centre, the discharge abstract could be used to identify and exclude patients hospitalized with a major bleed or thromboembolism. If coding quality for bleeding is similar in other hospitals, these ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes could be used to study population-based warfarin-associated hemorrhagic complications using administrative databases.

Management and survival of patients with lung cancer in Scotland diagnosed in 1995: results of a national population based study

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with lung cancer in Scotland is poor and not improving. This study was designed to document factors influencing referral, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and survival in patients with lung cancer.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed during 1995 were identified from the Scottish Cancer Registry and their medical records were reviewed. Adequate records were available in 91.2% of all potentially eligible cases.

RESULTS

In 1995, patients in Scotland with lung cancer had a high rate of microscopic verification (74.1%) and 75.3% were assessed by a respiratory physician; however, only 56.8% received active treatment (resection 10.7%, radiotherapy 35.8%, chemotherapy 16.1%) and 2.9% participated in a clinical trial. Survival was poor with a median of 3.6 months; 21.1% (95% CI 19.8% to 22.4%) were alive at 1 year and 7.0% (95% CI 6.2% to 7.8%) at 3 years. Management by respiratory physician, oncologist, or thoracic surgeon was an independent predictor of access to potentially curative treatment and better survival.

CONCLUSION

This national population based study demonstrates low use of treatment, poor survival, and the influence of process of care on survival. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines will require substantial changes in practice. Increasing the number of patients who receive treatment may improve survival.