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Stauder SK, Borkar SR, Glasgow AE, Runkle TL, Sherman ME, Spaulding AC, Mohseni MM, DeStephano CC. Emergency Department Visits Before Cancer Diagnosis Among Women at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes 2024; 8:213-224. [PMID: 38596167 PMCID: PMC11002794 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine associations of incident cancer diagnoses in women with recent emergency department (ED) care. Patients and Methods A retrospective cohort study analyzing biological females aged 18 years and older, who were diagnosed with an incident primary cancer (12 cancer types studied) from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021, from electronic health records. The primary outcome was a cancer diagnosis within 6 months of a preceding ED visit. Secondary outcomes included patient factors associated with a preceding ED visit. Results Of 25,736 patients (median age of 62 years, range 18-101) diagnosed with an incident primary cancer, 1938 (7.5%) had an ED visit ≤6 months before a diagnosis. The ED-associated cancer cases were highest in lung cancer (n=514, 14.7%) followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=22, 13.3%). Patient factors increasing the likelihood of ED evaluation before diagnosis included 18-50 years of age (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.09-1.61), Elixhauser score (measure of comorbidities) >4 (OR=17.90; 95% CI, 14.21-22.76), use of Medicaid or other government insurance (OR=2.10; 95% CI, 1.63-2.69), residence within the institutional catchment areas (OR=3.18; 95% CI, 2.78-3.66), non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (OR=1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.88), and established primary care provider at Mayo Clinic (OR=1.45; 95% CI, 1.28-1.65). The ED visits were more likely in those who died within 6 months of diagnosis (n=327, 37.8%) than those who did not die (n=1611, 6.5%). Conclusion Patient characteristics identified in this study offer opportunities to provide cancer risk assessment and health navigation, particularly among individuals with comorbidities and limited health care access.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shalmali R. Borkar
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Amy E. Glasgow
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Tage L. Runkle
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Mark E. Sherman
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Aaron C. Spaulding
- Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
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Burton A, Wilburn J, Driver RJ, Wallace D, McPhail S, Cross TJS, Rowe IA, Marshall A. Routes to diagnosis for hepatocellular carcinoma patients: predictors and associations with treatment and mortality. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1697-1708. [PMID: 38499728 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02645-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence has increased rapidly, and prognosis remains poor. We aimed to explore predictors of routes to diagnosis (RtD), and outcomes, in HCC cases. METHODS HCC cases diagnosed 2006-2017 were identified from the National Cancer Registration Dataset and linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and the RtD metric. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associations between RtD, diagnosis year, 365-day mortality and receipt of potentially curative treatment. RESULTS 23,555 HCC cases were identified; 36.1% via emergency presentation (EP), 30.2% GP referral (GP), 17.1% outpatient referral, 11.0% two-week wait and 4.6% other/unknown routes. Odds of 365-day mortality was >70% lower via GP or OP routes than EP, and odds of curative treatment 3-4 times higher. Further adjustment for cancer/cirrhosis stage attenuated the associations with curative treatment. People who were older, female, had alcohol-related liver disease, or were more deprived, were at increased risk of an EP. Over time, diagnoses via EP decreased, and via GP increased. CONCLUSIONS HCC RtD is an important predictor of outcomes. Continuing to reduce EP and increase GP and OP presentations, for example by identifying and regularly monitoring patients at higher risk of HCC, may improve stage at diagnosis and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya Burton
- National Disease Registration Service, NHS England, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE, UK.
- Bristol Medical School, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
| | - Jennifer Wilburn
- National Disease Registration Service, NHS England, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE, UK
| | - Robert J Driver
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research at St. James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - David Wallace
- Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
- Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Sean McPhail
- National Disease Registration Service, NHS England, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE, UK
| | - Tim J S Cross
- Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK
| | - Ian A Rowe
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research at St. James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Aileen Marshall
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, The Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK
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Exarchakou A, Rachet B, Lyratzopoulos G, Maringe C, Rubio FJ. What can hospital emergency admissions prior to cancer diagnosis tell us about socio-economic inequalities in cancer diagnosis? Evidence from population-based data in England. Br J Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41416-024-02688-6. [PMID: 38671209 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02688-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More deprived cancer patients are at higher risk of Emergency Presentation (EP) with most studies pointing to lower symptom awareness and increased comorbidities to explain those patterns. With the example of colon cancer, we examine patterns of hospital emergency admissions (HEAs) history in the most and least deprived patients as a potential precursor of EP. METHODS We analysed the rates of hospital admissions and their admission codes (retrieved from Hospital Episode Statistics) in the two years preceding cancer diagnosis by sex, deprivation and route to diagnosis (EP, non-EP). To select the conditions (grouped admission codes) that best predict emergency admission, we adapted the purposeful variable selection to mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS Colon cancer patients diagnosed through EP had the highest number of HEAs than all the other routes to diagnosis, especially in the last 7 months before diagnosis. Most deprived patients had an overall higher rate and higher probability of HEA but fewer conditions associated with it. CONCLUSIONS Our findings point to higher use of emergency services for non-specific symptoms and conditions in the most deprived patients, preceding colon cancer diagnosis. Health system barriers may be a shared factor of socio-economic inequalities in EP and HEAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimilia Exarchakou
- Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Bernard Rachet
- Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO), Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Camille Maringe
- Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON), Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Hussain MI, Piozzi GN, Sakib N, Duhoky R, Carannante F, Khan JS. Laparoscopic versus Open Emergency Surgery for Right Colon Cancers. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:407. [PMID: 38396446 PMCID: PMC10888455 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A laparoscopic approach to right colectomies for emergency right colon cancers is under investigation. This study compares perioperative and oncological long-term outcomes of right colon cancers undergoing laparoscopic or open emergency resections and identifies risk factors for survival. METHODS Patients were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database between 2009 and 2019. Demographics, clinicopathological features, recurrence, and survival were investigated. Cox regression analysis was performed for risk factor analysis. RESULTS A total of 202 right colectomies (114 open and 88 laparoscopic) were included. ASA III-IV was higher in the open group. The conversion rate was 14.8%. Laparoscopic surgery was significantly longer (156 vs. 203 min, p < 0.001); pTNM staging did not differ. Laparoscopy was associated with higher lymph node yield, and showed better resection clearance (R0, 78.9 vs. 87.5%, p = 0.049) and shorter postoperative stay (12.5 vs. 8.0 days, p < 0.001). Complication rates and grade were similar. The median length of follow-up was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group (20.5 vs. 33.5 months, p < 0.001). Recurrences were similar (34.2 vs. 36.4%). Open surgery had lower five-year overall survival (OS, 27.1 vs. 51.7%, p = 0.001). Five-year disease-free survival was similar (DFS, 55.8 vs. 56.5%). Surgical approach, pN, pM, retrieved LNs, R stage, and complication severity were risk factors for OS upon multivariate analysis. Pathological N stage and R stage were risk factors for DFS upon multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS A laparoscopic approach to right colon cancers in an emergency setting is safe in terms of perioperative and long-term oncological outcomes. Randomized control trials are required to further investigate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Iqbal Hussain
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK; (M.I.H.); (G.N.P.)
| | - Guglielmo Niccolò Piozzi
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK; (M.I.H.); (G.N.P.)
| | - Najmu Sakib
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK; (M.I.H.); (G.N.P.)
| | - Rauand Duhoky
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK; (M.I.H.); (G.N.P.)
- University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Filippo Carannante
- Colorectal Surgery Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Jim S. Khan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, UK; (M.I.H.); (G.N.P.)
- University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
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Conroy S, Catto JWF, Bex A, Brown JE, Cartledge J, Fielding A, Jones RJ, Khoo V, Nicol D, Stewart GD, Sullivan M, Tran MGB, Woodward R, Cumberbatch MG. Diagnosis, treatment, and survival from kidney cancer: real-world National Health Service England data between 2013 and 2019. BJU Int 2023; 132:541-553. [PMID: 37436368 DOI: 10.1111/bju.16128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To report the NHS Digital (NHSD) data for patients diagnosed with kidney cancer (KC) in England. We explore the incidence, route to diagnosis (RTD), treatment, and survival patterns from 2013 to 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data was extracted from the Cancer Data NHSD portal for International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition coded KC; this included Cancer Registry data, Hospital Episode Statistics, and cancer waiting times data. RESULTS Registrations included 66 696 individuals with KC. Incidence of new KC diagnoses increased (8998 in 2013, to 10 232 in 2019), but the age-standardised rates were stable (18.7-19.4/100 000 population). Almost half of patients (30 340 [45.5%]) were aged 0-70 years and the cohort were most frequently diagnosed with Stage 1-2 KC (n = 26 297 [39.4%]). Most patients were diagnosed through non-urgent general practitioner referrals (n = 16 814 [30.4%]), followed by 2-week-wait (n = 15 472 [28.0%]) and emergency routes (n = 11 796 [21.3%]), with older patients (aged ≥70 years), Stage 4 KCs, and patients with non-specified renal cell carcinoma being significantly more likely to present through the emergency route (all P < 0.001). Invasive treatment (surgery or ablation), radiotherapy, or systemic anti-cancer therapy use varied with disease stage, patient factors, and treatment network (Cancer Alliance). Survival outcomes differed by Stage, histological subtype, and social deprivation class (P < 0.001). Age-standardised mortality rates did not change over the study duration, although immunotherapy usage is likely not captured in this study timeline. CONCLUSION The NHSD resource provides useful insight about the incidence, diagnostic pathways, treatment, and survival of patients with KC in England and a useful benchmark for the upcoming commissioned National Kidney Cancer Audit. The RTD data may be limited by incidental diagnoses, which could confound the high proportion of 'emergency' diagnoses. Importantly, survival outcomes remained relatively unchanged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Conroy
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Urology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - James W F Catto
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Urology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Axel Bex
- Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, Specialist Centre for Kidney Cancer, London, UK
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Janet E Brown
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Alison Fielding
- Bladder and Renal Cancer Clinical Studies Group, National Cancer Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Rob J Jones
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Vincent Khoo
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - David Nicol
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Grant D Stewart
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Sullivan
- Department of Urology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maxine G B Tran
- Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, Specialist Centre for Kidney Cancer, London, UK
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rose Woodward
- Action Kidney Cancer, Manchester, UK
- International Kidney Cancer Coalition, UK
| | - Marcus G Cumberbatch
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Urology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
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Mitchell H, Cairnduff V, O'Hare S, Simpson L, White R, Gavin AT. Factors associated with emergency admission for people dying from cancer in Northern Ireland: an observational data linkage study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1184. [PMID: 37907903 PMCID: PMC10617099 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10228-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many people living with cancer are admitted as an emergency, some just prior to diagnosis and others in their last year of life. Factors associated with accessing emergency care for people dying of cancer are complex and not well understood. This can make it difficult to have the resources and staffing in place to best care for individuals in their last year of life and their families. METHODS This study uses routinely collected administrative data from people who died of cancer in N. Ireland (NI) during 2015 and explores how personal characteristics (e.g., gender, age) and disease related factors (e.g., tumour site, cancer stage at initial diagnosis) were associated with having an emergency admission to hospital in the last year and the last 28 days of their lives, using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Almost three in four people had at least one emergency admission in the last year of life, and over one in three had an emergency admission the last 28 days of life. Patterns were similar for both time outcomes with males, people with haematological, lung or brain cancers, younger persons, those diagnosed with late-stage cancer, and people diagnosed close to time of death, being significantly more likely to have an emergency admission. While there was no significant association between deprivation and emergency admission rates, those living in urban areas were more likely to have an emergency admission in their last month of life compared to rural dwellers. Late diagnosis was evident with 538 people (12.8% of all deaths from cancer) being diagnosed within one month of death and 1242 (29%) within 3 months of death. CONCLUSION The high level of emergency admissions points to gaps in routine end-of-life care, and the need for additional training for hospital staff including frontline emergency department (ED) staff who are often the 'gatekeepers' to emergency inpatient care for people living with cancer. The levels of late diagnosis indicate a need for increased population awareness of cancer symptoms and system change to promote earlier diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Mitchell
- Centre for Public Health, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
| | - V Cairnduff
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - S O'Hare
- Centre for Public Health, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - L Simpson
- Centre for Public Health, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - R White
- Macmillan Cancer Support, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - A T Gavin
- Centre for Public Health, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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Kang S, McLeod SL, Walsh C, Grewal K. Patient outcomes associated with cancer diagnosis through the emergency department: A systematic review. Acad Emerg Med 2023; 30:955-962. [PMID: 36692950 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many patients are initially diagnosed with a new suspected cancer through the emergency department (ED). The objective of this systematic review was to compare stage of cancer and survival of patients diagnosed with cancer through the ED to patients diagnosed elsewhere. METHODS Electronic searches of Medline and EMBASE were conducted and reference lists were hand-searched. Studies comparing adult patients diagnosed with any type of cancer through the ED (ED diagnosis) to patients diagnosed elsewhere (non-ED diagnosis) were included. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, assessed quality of the studies, and extracted data. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data pertaining to patient outcomes were summarized and pooled using random-effects models and reported as risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), where applicable. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included. There was an increased risk of more advanced/later stage cancer (Stage III/IV or late-stage vs. earlier stage) among patients with an ED diagnosis of cancer compared to a non-ED diagnosis of cancer (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.39-1.58). Survival was lower for patients with an ED diagnosis of cancer compared to those diagnosed elsewhere (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.49-0.75). CONCLUSIONS Patients with an ED diagnosis of cancer had more advanced/late stage of cancer at diagnosis and worse survival compared to patients diagnosed elsewhere. Future research examining patients diagnosed with cancer through the ED is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Kang
- Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelley L McLeod
- Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Walsh
- Library Services, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Keerat Grewal
- Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Conroy S, Griffin J, Cumberbatch M, Pathak S. Acute haemorrhage from a large renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma: diagnostic and management considerations in a teenage patient with a rare cancer. BMJ Case Rep 2023; 16:16/5/e252351. [PMID: 37202109 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-252351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute renal haemorrhage is a life-threatening condition that is complicated in the context of renal malignancy. Here, we present the case of a teenage male presenting acutely with a large, bleeding renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) of the kidney-a rare cancer, which is part of the perivascular epithelioid cell tumour family. The patient was managed acutely with prompt resuscitation, transfer to a centre of expertise and haemorrhagic control using radiologically guided endovascular techniques; this subsequently permitted an oncologically sound procedure (radical nephrectomy, inferior vena cava thrombectomy and lymphadenectomy) to be performed within 24 hours. The description and discussion around this unique case summarises the patient's clinical journey, while exploring the current literature surrounding diagnosis and outcomes of patients with renal EAMLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Conroy
- Academic Unit of Urology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Urology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jon Griffin
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Pathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marcus Cumberbatch
- Academic Unit of Urology, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Urology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
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Mulliri A, Gardy J, Dejardin O, Bouvier V, Pocard M, Alves A. Social inequalities in health: How do they influence the natural history of colorectal cancer? J Visc Surg 2023:S1878-7886(23)00031-0. [PMID: 37062638 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
As regards colorectal cancer (CRC) in France, social inequalities in health (SIH) exist. Underprivileged patients are characterized by reduced incidence of CRC and, conversely, by excess mortality. The explanatory mechanisms of the SIHs influencing survival are complex, multidimensional and variable according to healthcare system. Among the most deprived compared to the least deprived patients, SIHs are reflected by lower participation in screening campaigns, and CRC diagnosis is more frequently given at a later stage in an emergency context. During treatment, disadvantaged patients are more at risk of having to undergo open surgery and of enduring severe postoperative complications and belated chemotherapy (when recommended). Study of SIHs poses unusual challenges, as it is necessary not only to pinpoint social deprivation, but also to locate the different treatment facilities existing in a given territorial expanse. In the absence of individualized socioeconomic information, research in France on the social determinants of health is based on duly constituted cancer registries, in which an ecological index of social deprivation, the European Deprivation Index (EDI), provides an aggregate measure of the socioeconomic environment of a given individual in a given geographical setting at a given point in time. All in all, studies on SIHs are justified as means of identification and comprehension of the mechanisms underlying social deprivation, the objective being to more precisely orient programs and practices aimed at combating SIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mulliri
- Inserm-UCN, ANTICIPE U1086, 14000 Caen, France; Department of visceral and digestive surgery, Caen University Hospital Center, 14000 Caen, France.
| | - J Gardy
- Inserm-UCN, ANTICIPE U1086, 14000 Caen, France; Registry of Digestive Tumors of Calvados, Caen University Hospital Center Center, 14000 Caen, France; François-Baclesse Cancer Center, 14000 Caen, France
| | - O Dejardin
- Inserm-UCN, ANTICIPE U1086, 14000 Caen, France; Research unit, Caen University Hospital Center, 14000 Caen, France
| | - V Bouvier
- Inserm-UCN, ANTICIPE U1086, 14000 Caen, France; Registry of Digestive Tumors of Calvados, Caen University Hospital Center Center, 14000 Caen, France
| | - M Pocard
- Inserm, U1275 CAP Paris-Tech, Paris Cité University, 75010 Paris, France; Digestive and Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic Surgery, Liver Transplantation, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP, 75013 Paris, France
| | - A Alves
- Inserm-UCN, ANTICIPE U1086, 14000 Caen, France; Department of visceral and digestive surgery, Caen University Hospital Center, 14000 Caen, France; Registry of Digestive Tumors of Calvados, Caen University Hospital Center Center, 14000 Caen, France
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Carmichael J, Seymour F, McIlroy G, Tayabali S, Amerikanou R, Feyler S, Popat R, Pratt G, Parrish C, Ashcroft AJ, Jackson GH, Cook G. Delayed diagnosis resulting in increased disease burden in multiple myeloma: the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blood Cancer J 2023; 13:38. [PMID: 36922489 PMCID: PMC10015143 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-023-00795-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had global healthcare impacts, including high mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients; individuals with multiple myeloma (MM) are especially susceptible to poor outcomes. However, even for MM patients who avoided severe infection, the ramifications of the pandemic have been considerable. The consequences of necessary socio-geographical behavior adaptation, including prolonged shielding and interruptions in delivery of non-pandemic medical services are yet to be fully understood. Using a real-world dataset of 323 consecutive newly diagnosed MM patients in England, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routes to myeloma diagnosis, disease stage at presentation and relevant clinical outcomes. We demonstrate increasing MM presentations via emergency services and increased rates of bony and extra-medullary disease. Differences were seen in choice of induction therapy and the proportion of eligible patients undertaking autologous stem cell transplantation. Whilst survival was statistically inferior for emergency presentations, significant survival differences have yet to be demonstrated for the entire cohort diagnosed during the pandemic, making extended follow-up critical in this group. This dataset highlights wide-ranging issues facing MM patients consequent of the COVID-19 pandemic, with full impacts for clinicians and policy-makers yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Carmichael
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trial research & Leeds Cancer Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- NIHR Medtech & In Vitro Diagnostics Cooperative (Leeds), Leeds, UK
- Dept of Haematology, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Frances Seymour
- Dept of Haematology, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Graham McIlroy
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sarrah Tayabali
- Dept of Haematology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Rosie Amerikanou
- Dept of Haematology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sylvia Feyler
- Dept of Haematology, Calderdale & Huddersfield Foundation Trust, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Rakesh Popat
- Dept of Haematology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Guy Pratt
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Christopher Parrish
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trial research & Leeds Cancer Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Dept of Haematology, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - A John Ashcroft
- Dept of Haematology, Pinderfields Hospital, Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK
| | - Graham H Jackson
- Department of Haematology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- College of Myeloma (UK), London, UK
| | - Gordon Cook
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trial research & Leeds Cancer Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- NIHR Medtech & In Vitro Diagnostics Cooperative (Leeds), Leeds, UK.
- Dept of Haematology, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, UK.
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11
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Wanis HA, Møller H, Ashkan K, Davies EA. The Influence of Ethnicity on Survival from Malignant Primary Brain Tumours in England: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15. [PMID: 36900254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the completeness of ethnicity data in the English cancer registration data has greatly improved. Using these data, this study aims to estimate the influence of ethnicity on survival from primary malignant brain tumours. METHODS Demographic and clinical data on adult patients diagnosed with malignant primary brain tumour from 2012 to 2017 were obtained (n = 24,319). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for the survival of the ethnic groups up to one year following diagnosis. Logistic regressions were then used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for different ethnic groups of (1) being diagnosed with pathologically confirmed glioblastoma, (2) being diagnosed through a hospital stay that included an emergency admission, and (3) receiving optimal treatment. RESULTS After an adjustment for known prognostic factors and factors potentially affecting access to healthcare, patients with an Indian background (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98), Any Other White (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.91), Other Ethnic Group (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.62-0.79), and Unknown/Not Stated Ethnicity (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.88) had better one-year survivals than the White British Group. Individuals with Unknown ethnicity are less likely be diagnosed with glioblastoma (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58-0.84) and less likely to be diagnosed through a hospital stay that included an emergency admission (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.53-0.69). CONCLUSION The demonstrated ethnic variations associated with better brain tumour survival suggests the need to identify risk or protective factors that may underlie these differences in patient outcomes.
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12
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Lash RS, Hong AS, Bell JF, Reed SC, Pettit N. Recognizing the emergency department’s role in oncologic care: a review of the literature on unplanned acute care. Emerg Cancer Care 2022; 1:6. [PMID: 35844666 PMCID: PMC9200439 DOI: 10.1186/s44201-022-00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The global prevalence of cancer is rapidly increasing and will increase the acute care needs of patients with cancer, including emergency department (ED) care. Patients with cancer present to the ED across the cancer care continuum from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life. This article describes the characteristics and determinants of ED visits, as well as challenges in the effort to define preventable ED visits in this population.
Findings
The most recent population-based estimates suggest 4% of all ED visits are cancer-related and roughly two thirds of these ED visits result in hospitalization—a 4-fold higher ED hospitalization rate than the general population. Approximately 44% of cancer patients visit the ED within 1 year of diagnosis, and more often have repeat ED visits within a short time frame, though there is substantial variability across cancer types. Similar patterns of cancer-related ED use are observed internationally across a range of different national payment and health system settings. ED use for patients with cancer likely reflects a complex interaction of individual and contextual factors—including provider behavior, health system characteristics, and health policies—that warrants greater attention in the literature.
Conclusions
Given the amount and complexity of cancer care delivered in the emergency setting, future research is recommended to examine specific symptoms associated with cancer-related ED visits, the contextual determinants of ED use, and definitions of preventable ED use specific to patients with cancer.
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13
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de Santis RB, Wainstein AJA, Machado GCOG, Santos FAV, Melo MRP, Drummond‐Lage AP. Cancer patients admitted in the emergency department: A single‐centre observational study. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2022; 31:e13758. [DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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14
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Martins T, Abel G, Ukoumunne OC, Mounce LTA, Price S, Lyratzopoulos G, Chinegwundoh F, Hamilton W. Ethnic inequalities in routes to diagnosis of cancer: a population-based UK cohort study. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:863-871. [PMID: 35661833 PMCID: PMC9427836 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01847-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND UK Asian and Black ethnic groups have poorer outcomes for some cancers and are less likely to report a positive care experience than their White counterparts. This study investigated ethnic differences in the route to diagnosis (RTD) to identify areas in patients' cancer journeys where inequalities lie, and targeted intervention might have optimum impact. METHODS We analysed data of 243,825 patients with 10 cancers (2006-2016) from the RTD project linked to primary care data. Crude and adjusted proportions of patients diagnosed via six routes (emergency, elective GP referral, two-week wait (2WW), screen-detected, hospital, and Other routes) were calculated by ethnicity. Adjusted odds ratios (including two-way interactions between cancer and age, sex, IMD, and ethnicity) determined cancer-specific differences in RTD by ethnicity. RESULTS Across the 10 cancers studied, most patients were diagnosed via 2WW (36.4%), elective GP referral (23.2%), emergency (18.2%), hospital routes (10.3%), and screening (8.61%). Patients of Other ethnic group had the highest proportion of diagnosis via the emergency route, followed by White patients. Asian and Black group were more likely to be GP-referred, with the Black and Mixed groups also more likely to follow the 2WW route. However, there were notable cancer-specific differences in the RTD by ethnicity. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that, where inequalities exist, the adverse cancer outcomes among Asian and Black patients are unlikely to be arising solely from a poorer diagnostic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanimola Martins
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
| | - Gary Abel
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula (PenARC), University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Luke T A Mounce
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Sarah Price
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes (ECHO) Group, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Frank Chinegwundoh
- Barts Health NHS Trust & Department of Health Sciences, University of London, London, UK
| | - William Hamilton
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
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15
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Danckert B, Christensen NL, Falborg AZ, Frederiksen H, Lyratzopoulos G, McPhail S, Pedersen AF, Ryg J, Thomsen LA, Vedsted P, Jensen H. Assessing how routes to diagnosis vary by the age of patients with cancer: a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:906. [PMID: 35986279 PMCID: PMC9392355 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09937-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older patients with cancer have poorer prognosis compared to younger patients. Moreover, prognosis is related to how cancer is identified, and where in the healthcare system patients present, i.e. routes to diagnosis (RtD). We investigated whether RtD varied by patients' age. METHODS This population-based national cohort study used Danish registry data. Patients were categorized into age groups and eight mutually exclusive RtD. We employed multinomial logistic regressions adjusted for sex, region, diagnosis year, cohabitation, education, income, immigration status and comorbidities. Screened and non-screened patients were analysed separately. RESULTS The study included 137,876 patients. Both younger and older patients with cancer were less likely to get diagnosed after a cancer patient pathways referral from primary care physician compared to middle-aged patients. Older patients were more likely to get diagnosed via unplanned admission, death certificate only, and outpatient admission compared to younger patients. The patterns were similar across comorbidity levels. CONCLUSIONS RtD varied by age groups, and middle-aged patients were the most likely to get diagnosed after cancer patient pathways with referral from primary care. Emphasis should be put on raising clinicians' awareness of cancer being the underlying cause of symptoms in both younger patients and in older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Danckert
- The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - N L Christensen
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - A Z Falborg
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H Frederiksen
- Haematological Research Unit, Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - G Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - S McPhail
- National Disease Registration Service, NHS Digital, Leeds, UK
| | - A F Pedersen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - J Ryg
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - L A Thomsen
- The Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark.
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16
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Stewart E, Tavabie S, McGovern C, Round A, Shaw L, BAss S, Herriott R, Savage E, Young K, Bruun A, Droney J, Monnery D, Wells G, White N, Minton O. Cancer centre supportive oncology service: health economic evaluation. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2022; 13:bmjspcare-2022-003716. [PMID: 35850958 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2022-003716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There have been many models of providing oncology and palliative care to hospitals. Many patients will use the hospital non-electively or semielectively, and a large proportion are likely to be in the last years of life. We describe our multidisciplinary service to treatable but not curable cancer patients at University Hospitals Sussex. The team was a mixture of clinical nurse specialists and a clinical fellow supported by dedicated palliative medicine consultant time and oncology expertise. METHODS We identified patients with cancer who had identifiable supportive care needs and record activity with clinical coding. We used a baseline 2019/2020 dataset of national (secondary uses service) data with discharge code 79 (patients who died during that year) to compare a dataset of patients seen by the service between September 2020 and September 2021 in order to compare outcomes. While this was during COVID-19 this was when the funding was available. RESULTS We demonstrated a reduction in length of stay by an average of 1.43 days per admission and a reduction of 0.95 episodes of readmission rates. However, the costs of those admissions were found to be marginally higher. Even with the costs of the service, there is a clear return on investment with a benefit cost ratio of 1.4. CONCLUSIONS A supportive oncology service alongside or allied to acute oncology but in conjunction with palliative care is feasible and cost-effective. This would support investment in such a service and should be nationally commissioned in conjunction with palliative care services seeing all conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Stewart
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Simon Tavabie
- Palliative Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
| | | | | | | | - Stephen BAss
- Palliative Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Rob Herriott
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Emily Savage
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Katie Young
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Andrea Bruun
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, UCL, London, UK
| | - Joanne Droney
- Palliative Care, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Daniel Monnery
- Palliative Medicine, Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Geoffrey Wells
- Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Nicola White
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ollie Minton
- Palliative Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
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17
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Pettit N, Sarmiento E, Kline J. Disparities in outcomes among patients diagnosed with cancer in proximity to an emergency department visit. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10667. [PMID: 35739143 PMCID: PMC9226041 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13422-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A suspected diagnosis of cancer in the emergency department (ED) may be associated with poor outcomes, related to health disparities, however data are limited. This is a retrospective observational cohort of the Indiana State Department of Health Cancer Registry, and the Indiana Network for Patient Care. First time cancer diagnoses appearing in the registry between January 2013 and December 2017 were included. Cases identified as patients who had an ED visit in the 6 months before their cancer diagnosis; controls had no preceding ED visits. The primary outcome was mortality, comparing ED-associated mortality to non-ED-associated. 134,761 first-time cancer patients were identified, including 15,432 (11.5%) cases. The mean age was same at 65, more of the cases were Black than the controls (12.4% vs 7.4%, P < .0001) and more were low income (36.4%. vs 29.3%). The top 3 ED-associated cancer diagnoses were lung (18.4%), breast (8.9%), and colorectal cancers (8.9%), whereas the controls were breast (17%), lung (14.9%), and prostate cancers (10.1%). Cases observed an over three-fold higher mortality, with cumulative death rate of 32.9% for cases vs 9.0% for controls (P < .0001). Regression analysis predicting mortality, controlling for many confounders produced an odds ratio of 4.12 (95% CI 3.72-4.56 for cases). This study found that an ED visit within 6 months prior to the first time of ICD-coded cancer is associated with Black race, low income and an overall three-fold increased adjusted risk of death. The mortality rates for ED-associated cancers are uniformly worse for all cancer types. These data suggest that additional work is needed to reduce disparities among ED-associated cancer diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Pettit
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - Elisa Sarmiento
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kline
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, 4201 St. Antoine, University Health Center - 6G, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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18
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Ryan G, Ashida S, Gilbert PA, Scherer A, Charlton ME, Kahl A, Askelson N. The Use of Medical Claims Data for Identifying Missed Opportunities for HPV Immunization Among Privately Insured Adolescents in the State of Iowa. J Community Health 2022; 47:783-789. [PMID: 35715576 PMCID: PMC9205414 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rates of adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination remain low, despite decades of safety and effectiveness data. We sought to quantify the extent of missed opportunities (MOs) for HPV vaccination among adolescents ages 11 to 13 in Iowa and compare the number of these MOs by gender and rurality. METHODS Medical claims data from a midwestern insurance provider were used to calculate total numbers of MOs for HPV vaccination for adolescents with continuous health insurance enrollment between ages 11 and 13 (n = 14,505). We divided MOs into several categories: total, among non-initiators, occurring before initiation, occurring after the first dose, and occurring between first and last dose. Finally, we used t-tests to perform subgroup comparisons (urban vs. rural; male vs. female). RESULTS Over half of adolescents failed to initiate vaccination by age 13. The majority of MOs occurred prior to initiation. Urban adolescents had more MOs than rural counterparts and males tended to have more MOs than females. Females experienced significantly fewer overall MOs than males 5.98 (SD = 5.49) compared to 6.18 (SD = 6.04) for males. Additionally, among non-initiators, urban females had significantly more MOs overall (M = 7.13; SD = 6.41) compared to rural females (M = 6.58; SD = 5.51). CONCLUSIONS Results highlight the extent of MOs that occur at the critical time period between ages 11 and 13. A lack of opportunity was not the barrier to HPV vaccination, particularly among both males and urban adolescents. It will be critical for providers to use known strategies to reduce MOs and utilize all adolescent visits to ensure vaccination is completed by age 13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ryan
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
| | - Sato Ashida
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Paul A Gilbert
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Aaron Scherer
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Mary E Charlton
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Amanda Kahl
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Iowa Cancer Registry, 2600 UCC, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Natoshia Askelson
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
- Public Policy Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Majano SB, Lyratzopoulos G, Rachet B, de Wit NJ, Renzi C. Do presenting symptoms, use of pre-diagnostic endoscopy and risk of emergency cancer diagnosis vary by comorbidity burden and type in patients with colorectal cancer? Br J Cancer 2022; 126:652-663. [PMID: 34741134 PMCID: PMC8569047 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01603-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer patients often have pre-existing comorbidities, which can influence timeliness of cancer diagnosis. We examined symptoms, investigations and emergency presentation (EP) risk among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients by comorbidity status. METHODS Using linked cancer registration, primary care and hospital records of 4836 CRC patients (2011-2015), and multivariate quantile and logistic regression, we examined variations in specialist investigations, diagnostic intervals and EP risk. RESULTS Among colon cancer patients, 46% had at least one pre-existing hospital-recorded comorbidity, most frequently cardiovascular disease (CVD, 18%). Comorbid versus non-comorbid cancer patients more frequently had records of anaemia (43% vs 38%), less frequently rectal bleeding/change in bowel habit (20% vs 27%), and longer intervals from symptom-to-first relevant test (median 136 vs 74 days). Comorbid patients were less likely investigated with colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy, independently of symptoms (adjusted OR = 0.7[0.6, 0.9] for Charlson comorbidity score 1-2 and OR = 0.5 [0.4-0.7] for score 3+ versus 0. EP risk increased with comorbidity score 0, 1, 2, 3+: 23%, 35%, 33%, 47%; adjusted OR = 1.8 [1.4, 2.2]; 1.7 [1.3, 2.3]; 3.0 [2.3, 4.0]) and for patients with CVD (adjusted OR = 2.0 [1.5, 2.5]). CONCLUSIONS Comorbid individuals with as-yet-undiagnosed CRC often present with general rather than localising symptoms and are less likely promptly investigated with colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy. Comorbidity is a risk factor for diagnostic delay and has potential, additionally to symptoms, as risk-stratifier for prioritising patients needing prompt assessment to reduce EP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Benitez Majano
- Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON) Group, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Bernard Rachet
- Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network (ICON) Group, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Niek J de Wit
- University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Renzi
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
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20
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Crusz SM, Hall PE, Earwicker K, Dexter S, Patel-Walker G, Powles T, Diamantis N. Providing an acute oncology service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Med (Lond) 2021; 21:e548-e551. [PMID: 38594867 DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to adaptations being made to all aspects of the NHS, including general practice, acute medical specialties and oncology. This has presented unique challenges to acute oncology services (AOSs) in how to provide continuity of care while maintaining the safety of patients and staff. We describe the experience of the AOS team at Barts Health NHS Trust, working across three acute hospitals in east London. Changes to the service due to COVID-19 included increased remote reviews and referrals to the specialist oncology cancer acute assessment unit. The patient population reviewed in April 2020 (at the initial peak of the pandemic in the UK) was markedly different to one reviewed in April 2019, with 55% more patients presenting with a new diagnosis of cancer via an emergency route. Finally, we suggest changes to AOSs for future waves of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter E Hall
- Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK; joint first authors
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21
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Horsley SM, Morling JR, Khaw FM, Day M. Evaluating an 'incident control' approach to non-communicable disease. Public Health 2021; 197:1-5. [PMID: 34245950 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This article evaluates the application of 'incident control' methodology usually applied in communicable disease control to an 'incident' of unexplained deaths, specifically to resolve a significant difference in 1-year survival after a lung cancer diagnosis observed between two Clinical Commissioning Groups and the England national average, 2011-14. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess whether a formalised incident control approach is feasible and effective in improving outcomes for non-communicable diseases. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive, qualitative, process evaluation. METHODS There were two components to the evaluation: a document review against identified phases of a non-communicable disease incident control framework and a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with stakeholders who had been involved in implementation. RESULTS The findings indicate feasibility of the incident control model, with some limitations. Identified strengths of the model included the articulation of a clear case and incident definition. The structure and stepped phased approach facilitated partner engagement, robust data analysis, action planning and communication strategies. Delays in data publication and the lack of comparable data across different non-communicable diseases present challenges in timely response and prioritisation of 'incidents'. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation indicates value in applying defined incident control methodology to management of non-communicable diseases, especially where there is identification of a potential outlier or a measurable variation, i.e. there is a definable 'incident' and 'case'.
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22
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Quiroga M, Shephard EA, Mounce LTA, Carney M, Hamilton WT, Price SJ. Quantifying the impact of pre-existing conditions on the stage of oesophagogastric cancer at diagnosis: a primary care cohort study using electronic medical records. Fam Pract 2021; 38:425-431. [PMID: 33346832 PMCID: PMC8414906 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmaa132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pre-existing conditions interfere with cancer diagnosis by offering diagnostic alternatives, competing for clinical attention or through patient surveillance. OBJECTIVE To investigate associations between oesophagogastric cancer stage and pre-existing conditions. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) data, with English cancer registry linkage. Participants aged ≥40 years had consulted primary care in the year before their incident diagnosis of oesophagogastric cancer in 01/01/2010-31/12/2015. CPRD records pre-diagnosis were searched for codes denoting clinical features of oesophagogastric cancer and for pre-existing conditions, including those providing plausible diagnostic alternatives for those features. Logistic regression analysed associations between stage and multimorbidity (≥2 conditions; reference category: no multimorbidity) and having 'diagnostic alternative(s)', controlling for age, sex, deprivation and cancer site. RESULTS Of 2444 participants provided, 695 (28%) were excluded for missing stage, leaving 1749 for analysis (1265/1749, 72.3% had advanced-stage disease). Multimorbidity was associated with stage [odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47-0.85, P = 0.002], with moderate evidence of an interaction term with sex (1.76, 1.08-2.86, P = 0.024). There was no association between alternative explanations and stage (odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 0.87-1.60, P = 0.278). CONCLUSIONS In men, multimorbidity is associated with a reduced chance of advanced-stage oesophagogastric cancer, to levels seen collectively for women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myra Quiroga
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of Southern Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Shephard
- Discovery Research Group, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Luke T A Mounce
- Discovery Research Group, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Madeline Carney
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of Southern Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - William T Hamilton
- Discovery Research Group, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
| | - Sarah J Price
- Discovery Research Group, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK
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Rodríguez-Soza C, Ruiz-Cantero MT. [Gender blindness in medical textbooks: the case of leukemias]. Gac Sanit 2021; 36:333-344. [PMID: 34274164 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyse the existence of sex-differences in the content on leukemias in the Haematology and Internal Medicine textbooks recommended in the Medical Degrees, 2019-2020, by comparison with the sex-differences recognized in the scientific literature. METHOD Manifest content analysis of the content of chapters on leukemias in the books on hematology and internal medicine, clinical haematology and haematology undergraduate. Analysis categories: epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of leukemias. RESULTS Epidemiological information from the revised books has a greater consideration of sex differences in incidence and prognosis but does not contain data on mortality and survival. Etiopathogenesis is described in all books as the same physiological process for both sexes and no differences in the presentation of symptoms are described in any book. Three books describe a unique treatment that is assumed equal for both sexes; two books mention the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in pregnant women and one in chronic myeloid leukemia. No book mentions sex-differences in pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or treatment toxicity, although there is greater evidence on unequal behavior between the sexes. CONCLUSIONS The contents of sex and gender differences in the leukemia chapters analyzed are insufficient compared to the evidence in the scientific literature today. Hematology textbooks might increase their scientific quality in future editions, including knowledge of sex-gender interaction in the sections of epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and consequences of leukemias, which will contribute to better professional practices, more efficient and equitable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Teresa Ruiz-Cantero
- Grupo de Investigación de Salud Pública, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España.
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Chapman D, Poirier V, Fitzgerald K, Nicholson BD, Hamilton W; ACE MDC projects. Describing the potential of non-specific symptoms-based pathways for diagnosing less common cancers. Br J Gen Pract 2021:BJGP. [PMID: 34097639 DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2020.1108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although less common cancers account for over half of all cancer diagnoses in England, their relative scarcity and complex presentation, often with non-specific symptoms, means that patients often experience multiple primary care consultations, longer times to diagnosis and poorer clinical outcomes. An urgent referral pathway for non-specific symptoms, the Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Centre (MDC), may address this problem. AIM To examine the less common cancers identified during the MDC pilots and consider if such an approach improves the diagnosis of these cancers. DESIGN AND SETTING A service evaluation of five MDC pilot projects in England to 31st March 2019. METHOD Data items were collected by pilot sites in near-real time, based mainly on the English cancer outcomes and services dataset, with additional project specific items. Simple descriptive and comparative statistics were used, including chi-squared tests for proportions and t-tests for means where appropriate. RESULTS From 5,134 referrals, 378 cancers were diagnosed, of which 218 (58%) were less common. Over 30 different less common tumour types were diagnosed within this cohort. 23% of MDC patients with less common cancers had ≥3 more GP consultations before referral and, at programme level, a median time of 57 days was recorded from GP urgent referral to treatment for these tumour types. CONCLUSION A non-specific symptomatic referral route diagnoses a broad range of less common cancers, and can support primary care case management for patients with symptoms of possible cancer that do not qualify for a site-specific urgent referral.
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Martínez MT, Montón-Bueno J, Simon S, Ortega B, Moragon S, Roselló S, Insa A, Navarro J, Sanmartín A, Julve A, Buch E, Peña A, Franco J, Martínez-Jabaloyas J, Marco J, Forner MJ, Cano A, Silvestre A, Teruel A, Lluch A, Cervantes A, Chirivella Gonzalez I. Ten-year assessment of a cancer fast-track programme to connect primary care with oncology: reducing time from initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment initiation. ESMO Open 2021; 6:100148. [PMID: 33989988 PMCID: PMC8136438 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide. Integrating different levels of care by implementing screening programmes, extending diagnostic tools and applying therapeutic advances may increase survival. We implemented a cancer fast-track programme (CFP) to shorten the time between suspected cancer symptoms, diagnosis and therapy initiation. Patients and methods Descriptive data were collected from the 10 years since the CFP was implemented (2009-2019) at the Clinico-Malvarrosa Health Department in Valencia, Spain. General practitioners (GPs), an oncology coordinator and 11 specialists designed guidelines for GP patient referral to the CFP, including criteria for breast, digestive, gynaecological, lung, urological, dermatological, head and neck, and soft tissue cancers. Patients with enlarged lymph nodes and constitutional symptoms were also considered. On identifying patients with suspected cancer, GPs sent a case proposal to the oncology coordinator. If criteria were met, an appointment was quickly made with the patient. We analysed the timeline of each stage of the process. Results A total of 4493 suspected cancer cases were submitted to the CFP, of whom 4019 were seen by the corresponding specialist. Cancer was confirmed in 1098 (27.3%) patients: breast cancer in 33%, urological cancers in 22%, gastrointestinal cancer in 19% and lung cancer in 15%. The median time from submission to cancer testing was 11 days, and diagnosis was reached in a median of 19 days. Treatment was started at a median of 34 days from diagnosis. Conclusions The findings of this study show that the interval from GP patient referral to specialist testing, cancer diagnosis and start of therapy can be reduced. Implementation of the CFP enabled most patients to begin curative intended treatment, and required only minimal resources in our setting. Our CFP easily connects GPs and hospital specialists. Our CFP shortens assessment time in patients with suspected cancer, adding to quality care. Our CFP decreases emotional stress in patients without cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Martínez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Montón-Bueno
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - S Simon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - B Ortega
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - S Moragon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - S Roselló
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Insa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Navarro
- Management Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; CIBERESP (CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Centro Nacional de Epidemiología del Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Sanmartín
- Management Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Julve
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - E Buch
- Department of Surgery, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Peña
- Department of Medicine Digestive, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Franco
- Department of Pneumology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Martínez-Jabaloyas
- Department of Urology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Marco
- Department of Otolaryngology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - M J Forner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Cano
- Department of Gynecology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Silvestre
- Department of Traumatology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Teruel
- Department of Hematology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Lluch
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Cervantes
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - I Chirivella Gonzalez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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Woods LM, Rachet B, Morris M, Bhaskaran K, Coleman MP. Are socio-economic inequalities in breast cancer survival explained by peri-diagnostic factors? BMC Cancer 2021; 21:485. [PMID: 33933034 PMCID: PMC8088027 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08087-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients living in more deprived localities have lower cancer survival in England, but the role of individual health status at diagnosis and the utilisation of primary health care in explaining these differentials has not been widely considered. We set out to evaluate whether pre-existing individual health status at diagnosis and primary care consultation history (peri-diagnostic factors) could explain socio-economic differentials in survival amongst women diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women aged 15-99 years diagnosed in England using linked routine data. Ecologically-derived measures of income deprivation were combined with individually-linked data from the English National Cancer Registry, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) databases. Smoking status, alcohol consumption, BMI, comorbidity, and consultation histories were derived for all patients. Time to breast surgery was derived for women diagnosed after 2005. We estimated net survival and modelled the excess hazard ratio of breast cancer death using flexible parametric models. We accounted for missing data using multiple imputation. RESULTS Net survival was lower amongst more deprived women, with a single unit increase in deprivation quintile inferring a 4.4% (95% CI 1.4-8.8) increase in excess mortality. Peri-diagnostic co-variables varied by deprivation but did not explain the differentials in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSIONS These data show that socio-economic inequalities in survival cannot be explained by consultation history or by pre-existing individual health status, as measured in primary care. Differentials in the effectiveness of treatment, beyond those measuring the inclusion of breast surgery and the timing of surgery, should be considered as part of the wider effort to reduce inequalities in premature mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Woods
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Bernard Rachet
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Melanie Morris
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Krishnan Bhaskaran
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Michel P Coleman
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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Russell B, Häggström C, Holmberg L, Liedberg F, Gårdmark T, Bryan RT, Kumar P, Van Hemelrijck M. Systematic review of the association between socioeconomic status and bladder cancer survival with hospital type, comorbidities, and treatment delay as mediators. BJUI Compass 2021; 2:140-158. [PMID: 35475135 PMCID: PMC8988826 DOI: 10.1002/bco2.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Materials and methods Results Conclusions
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Russell
- Department of Translational Oncology and Urology Research School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences King's College London London UK
| | - Christel Häggström
- Department of Surgical Sciences Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine Umeå University Umeå Sweden
| | - Lars Holmberg
- Department of Translational Oncology and Urology Research School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences King's College London London UK
- Department of Surgical Sciences Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Fredrik Liedberg
- Department of Urology Skåne University Hospital Malmö Sweden
- Institution of Translational Medicine Lund University Malmö Sweden
| | - Truls Gårdmark
- Department of Clinical Sciences Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institute Stockholm Sweden
| | - Richard T Bryan
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences The University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
| | | | - Mieke Van Hemelrijck
- Department of Translational Oncology and Urology Research School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences King's College London London UK
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Zhou Y, Walter FM, Singh H, Hamilton W, Abel GA, Lyratzopoulos G. Prolonged Diagnostic Intervals as Marker of Missed Diagnostic Opportunities in Bladder and Kidney Cancer Patients with Alarm Features: A Longitudinal Linked Data Study. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E156. [PMID: 33466406 PMCID: PMC7796444 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In England, patients who meet National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline criteria for suspected cancer should receive a specialist assessment within 14 days. We examined how quickly bladder and kidney cancer patients who met fast-track referral criteria were actually diagnosed. METHODS We used linked primary care and cancer registration data on bladder and kidney cancer patients who met fast-track referral criteria and examined the time from their first presentation with alarm features to diagnosis. Using logistic regression we examined factors most likely to be associated with non-timely diagnosis (defined as intervals exceeding 90 days), adjusting for age, sex and cancer type, positing that such occurrences represent missed opportunity for timely referral, possibly due to sub-optimal guideline adherence. RESULTS 28%, 42% and 31% of all urological cancer patients reported no, one or two or more relevant symptoms respectively in the year before diagnosis. Of the 2105 patients with alarm features warranting fast-track assessment, 1373 (65%) presented with unexplained haematuria, 382 (18%) with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), 303 (14%) with visible haematuria, and 45 (2%) with an abdominal mass. 27% overall, and 24%, 45%, 18% and 27% of each group respectively, had a non-timely diagnosis. Presentation with recurrent UTI was associated with longest median diagnostic interval (median 83 days, IQR 43-151) and visible haematuria with the shortest (median 50 days, IQR 30-79). After adjustment, presentation with recurrent UTIs, being in the youngest or oldest age group, female sex, and diagnosis of kidney and upper tract urothelial cancer, were associated with greater odds of non-timely diagnosis. CONCLUSION More than a quarter of patients presenting with fast-track referral features did not achieve a timely diagnosis, suggesting inadequate guideline adherence for some patients. The findings highlight a substantial number of opportunities for expediting the diagnosis of patients with bladder or kidney cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhou
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Worts’ Causeway, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK;
| | - Fiona M. Walter
- Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Worts’ Causeway, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK;
| | - Hardeep Singh
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - William Hamilton
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter EX1 1TX, UK; (W.H.); (G.A.A.)
| | - Gary A. Abel
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter EX1 1TX, UK; (W.H.); (G.A.A.)
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes (ECHO) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
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Carney M, Quiroga M, Mounce L, Shephard E, Hamilton W, Price S. Effect of pre-existing conditions on bladder cancer stage at diagnosis: a cohort study using electronic primary care records in the UK. Br J Gen Pract 2020; 70:e629-35. [PMID: 32661011 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X710921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pre-existing concurrent medical conditions (multimorbidity) complicate cancer diagnosis when they provide plausible diagnostic alternatives for cancer symptoms. Aim To investigate associations in bladder cancer between: first, pre-existing condition count and advanced-stage diagnosis; and, second, comorbidities that share symptoms with bladder cancer and advanced-stage diagnosis. Design and setting This observational UK cohort study was set in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink with Public Health England National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service linkage. Method Included participants were aged ≥40 years with an incident diagnosis of bladder cancer between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015, and primary care records of attendance for haematuria, dysuria, or abdominal mass in the year before diagnosis. Stage at diagnosis (stage 1 or 2 versus stage 3 or 4) was the outcome variable. Putative explanatory variables using logistic regression were examined, including patient-level count of pre-existing conditions and ‘alternative-explanations’, indicating whether pre-existing condition(s) were plausible diagnostic alternatives for the index cancer symptom. Results In total, 1468 patients (76.4% male) were studied, of which 399 (35.6%) males and 217 (62.5%) females had alternative explanations for their index cancer symptom, the most common being urinary tract infection with haematuria. Females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20 to 2.18; P = 0.001). Alternative explanations were strongly associated with advanced-stage diagnosis in both sexes (aOR 1.69; 95% CI = 1.20 to 2.39; P = 0.003). Conclusion Alternative explanations were associated with advanced-stage diagnosis of bladder cancer. Females were more likely than males to be diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, but the effect was not driven entirely by alternative explanations.
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Price SJ, Joannides A, Plaha P, Afshari FT, Albanese E, Barua NU, Chan HW, Critchley G, Flannery T, Fountain DM, Mathew RK, Piper RJ, Poon MT, Rajaraman C, Rominiyi O, Smith S, Solomou G, Solth A, Surash S, Wykes V, Watts C, Bulbeck H, Hutchinson P, Jenkinson MD. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on surgical neuro-oncology multi-disciplinary team decision making: a national survey (COVID-CNSMDT Study). BMJ Open 2020; 10:e040898. [PMID: 32801210 PMCID: PMC7430412 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pressures on healthcare systems due to COVID-19 has impacted patients without COVID-19 with surgery disproportionally affected. This study aims to understand the impact on the initial management of patients with brain tumours by measuring changes to normal multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision making. DESIGN A prospective survey performed in UK neurosurgical units performed from 23 March 2020 until 24 April 2020. SETTING Regional neurosurgical units outside London (as the pandemic was more advanced at time of study). PARTICIPANTS Representatives from all units were invited to collect data on new patients discussed at their MDT meetings during the study period. Each unit decided if management decision for each patient had changed due to COVID-19. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome measures included number of patients where the decision to undergo surgery changed compared with standard management usually offered by that MDT. Secondary outcome measures included changes in surgical extent, numbers referred to MDT, number of patients denied surgery not receiving any treatment and reasons for any variation across the UK. RESULTS 18 units (75%) provided information from 80 MDT meetings that discussed 1221 patients. 10.7% of patients had their management changed-the majority (68%) did not undergo surgery and more than half of this group not undergoing surgery had no active treatment. There was marked variation across the UK (0%-28% change in management). Units that did not change management could maintain capacity with dedicated oncology lists. Low volume units were less affected. CONCLUSION COVID-19 has had an impact on patients requiring surgery for malignant brain tumours, with patients receiving different treatments-most commonly not receiving surgery or any treatment at all. The variations show dedicated cancer operating lists may mitigate these pressures. STUDY REGISTRATION This study was registered with the Royal College of Surgeons of England's COVID-19 Research Group (https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/coronavirus/rcs-covid-research-group/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen John Price
- Neurosurgery Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexis Joannides
- Neurosurgery Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Puneet Plaha
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Fardad Taghizadeh Afshari
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Service Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Erminia Albanese
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of North Midlands National Health Service Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Neil U Barua
- Department of Neurosurgery, North Bristol National Health Service Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Huan Wee Chan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Southampton National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Giles Critchley
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Thomas Flannery
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Daniel M Fountain
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal National Health Service Foundation Trust, Salford, UK
| | - Ryan K Mathew
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
| | - Rory J Piper
- Department of Neurosurgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Chittoor Rajaraman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, Kingston upon Hull, UK
| | - Ola Rominiyi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
| | - Stuart Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Georgios Solomou
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Service Trust, Coventry, UK
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Anna Solth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK
| | - Surash Surash
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Victoria Wykes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Colin Watts
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Peter Hutchinson
- Neurosurgery Division, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael D Jenkinson
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Walton Centre National Health Service Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Kostopoulou O, Nurek M, Delaney BC. Disentangling the Relationship between Physician and Organizational Performance: A Signal Detection Approach. Med Decis Making 2020; 40:746-755. [PMID: 32608327 PMCID: PMC7457451 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x20936212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Background. In previous research, we employed a signal detection approach to measure the performance of general practitioners (GPs) when deciding about urgent referral for suspected lung cancer. We also explored associations between provider and organizational performance. We found that GPs from practices with higher referral positive predictive value (PPV; chance of referrals identifying cancer) were more reluctant to refer than those from practices with lower PPV. Here, we test the generalizability of our findings to a different cancer. Methods. A total of 252 GPs responded to 48 vignettes describing patients with possible colorectal cancer. For each vignette, respondents decided whether urgent referral to a specialist was needed. They then completed the 8-item Stress from Uncertainty scale. We measured GPs' discrimination (d') and response bias (criterion; c) and their associations with organizational performance and GP demographics. We also measured correlations of d' and c between the 2 studies for the 165 GPs who participated in both. Results. As in the lung study, organizational PPV was associated with response bias: in practices with higher PPV, GPs had higher criterion (b = 0.05 [0.03 to 0.07]; P < 0.001), that is, they were less inclined to refer. As in the lung study, female GPs were more inclined to refer than males (b = -0.17 [-0.30 to -0.105]; P = 0.005). In a mediation model, stress from uncertainty did not explain the gender difference. Only response bias correlated between the 2 studies (r = 0.39, P < 0.001). Conclusions. This study confirms our previous findings regarding the relationship between provider and organizational performance and strengthens the finding of gender differences in referral decision making. It also provides evidence that response bias is a relatively stable feature of GP referral decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Kostopoulou
- Imperial College London, Department of Surgery and Cancer, London, UK
| | - Martine Nurek
- Imperial College London, Department of Surgery and Cancer, London, UK
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Rana RH, Alam F, Alam K, Gow J. Gender-specific differences in care-seeking behaviour among lung cancer patients: a systematic review. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2020; 146:1169-1196. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03197-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Schaffer AL, Pearson SA, Perez-Concha O, Dobbins T, Ward RL, van Leeuwen MT, Rhee JJ, Laaksonen MA, Craigen G, Vajdic CM. Diagnostic and health service pathways to diagnosis of cancer-registry notified cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230373. [PMID: 32191753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a late-stage malignancy with poor prognosis, but we know little about what diagnostic tests and procedures people with CUP receive prior to diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine how health service utilisation prior to diagnosis for people with cancer-registry notified CUP differs from those notified with metastatic cancer of known primary. Methods We identified people with a cancer registry notification of CUP (n = 327) from the 45 and Up Study, a prospective cohort of 266,724 people ≥45 years in New South Wales, Australia, matched with up to three controls with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer of known primary (n = 977). Baseline questionnaire data were linked to population health data to identify all health service use, diagnostic tests, and procedures in the month of diagnosis and 3 months prior. We used conditional logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results After adjusting for age and educational attainment, people with a cancer-registry notified CUP diagnosis were more likely to be an aged care resident (OR = 2.78, 95%CI 1.37–5.63), have an emergency department visit (OR = 1.65, 95%CI 1.23–2.21), serum tumor marker tests (OR = 1.51, 95%CI 1.12–2.04), or a cytology test without immunohistochemistry (OR = 2.01, 95%CI 1.47–2.76), and less likely to have a histopathology test without immunohistochemistry (OR = 0.43, 95%CI 0.31–0.59). Neither general practitioner, specialist, allied health practitioner or nurse consultations, hospitalisations, nor imaging procedures were associated with a CUP diagnosis. Conclusions The health service and diagnostic pathway to diagnosis differs markedly for people notified with CUP compared to those with metastatic cancer of known primary. While these differences may indicate missed opportunities for earlier detection and appropriate management, for some patients they may be clinically appropriate.
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Bosch X, Moreno P, Guerra-García M, Guasch N, López-Soto A. What is the relevance of an ambulatory quick diagnosis unit or inpatient admission for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer? A retrospective study of 1004 patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e19009. [PMID: 32176029 PMCID: PMC7440208 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000019009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Quick diagnosis units (QDU) have become an alternative hospital-based ambulatory medicine strategy to inpatient hospitalization for potentially serious illnesses in Spain. Whether diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is better accomplished by an ambulatory or inpatient approach is unknown. The main objective of this retrospective study was to examine and compare the diagnostic effectiveness of a QDU or inpatient setting in patients with pancreatic cancer.Patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma who had been referred to a university, tertiary hospital-based QDU or hospitalized between 2005 and 2018 were eligible. Presenting symptoms and signs, risk and prognostic factors, and time to diagnosis were compared. The costs incurred during the diagnostic assessment were analyzed with a microcosting method.A total of 1004 patients (508 QDU patients and 496 inpatients) were eligible. Admitted patients were more likely than QDU patients to have weight loss, asthenia, anorexia, abdominal pain, jaundice, and palpable hepatomegaly. Time to diagnosis of inpatients was similar to that of QDU patients (4.1 [0.8 vs 4.3 [0.6] days; P = .163). Inpatients were more likely than QDU patients to have a tumor on the head of the pancreas, a tumor size >2 cm, a more advanced nodal stage, and a poorer histological differentiation. No differences were observed in the proportion of metastatic and locally advanced disease and surgical resections. Microcosting revealed a cost of &OV0556;347.76 (48.69) per QDU patient and &OV0556;634.36 (80.56) per inpatient (P < .001).Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is similarly achieved by an inpatient or QDU clinical approach, but the latter seems to be cost-effective. Because the high costs of hospitalization, an ambulatory diagnostic assessment may be preferable in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bosch
- Quick Diagnosis Unit, Adult Day Care Center, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona
| | - Pedro Moreno
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona
| | - Mar Guerra-García
- Adult Day Care Center, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Guasch
- Adult Day Care Center, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfons López-Soto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona
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Lamb MJ, Roman E, Howell DA, Kane E, Bagguley T, Burton C, Patmore R, Smith AG. Hodgkin lymphoma detection and survival: findings from the Haematological Malignancy Research Network. BJGP Open 2019; 3:bjgpopen19X101668. [PMID: 31822492 PMCID: PMC6995857 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen19x101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hodgkin lymphoma is usually detected in primary care with early signs and symptoms, and is highly treatable with standardised chemotherapy. However, late presentation is associated with poorer outcomes. AIM To investigate the relationship between markers of advanced disease, emergency admission, and survival following a diagnosis of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL). DESIGN & SETTING The study was set within a sociodemographically representative UK population-based patient cohort of ~4 million, within which all patients were tracked through their care pathways, and linked to national data obtained from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) and deaths. METHOD All 971 patients with CHL newly diagnosed between 1 September 2004-31 August 2015 were followed until 18th December 2018. RESULTS The median diagnostic age was 41.5 years (range 0-96 years), 55.2% of the patients were male, 31.2% had stage IV disease, 43.0% had a moderate-high or high risk prognostic score, and 18.7% were admitted via the emergency route prior to diagnosis. The relationship between age and emergency admission was U-shaped: more likely in patients aged <25 years and ≥70 years. Compared to patients admitted via other routes, those presenting as an emergency had more advanced disease and poorer 3-year survival (relative survival 68.4% [95% confidence interval {CI} = 60.3 to 75.2] versus 89.8% [95% CI = 87.0 to 92.0], respectively [P<0.01]). However, after adjusting for clinically important prognostic factors, no difference in survival remained. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CHL survival as a whole could be increased by around 4% if the cancer in patients who presented as an emergency had been detected at the same point as in other patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxine Je Lamb
- Research Fellow, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Eve Roman
- Professor, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Debra A Howell
- Senior Research Fellow, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Eleanor Kane
- Research Fellow, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Timothy Bagguley
- Data Analyst, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Cathy Burton
- Consultant Haematologist, Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Russell Patmore
- Consultant Haematologist, Queen's Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Cottingham, UK
| | - Alexandra G Smith
- Reader, Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG), Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
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Yu EY, Nekeman D, Billingham LJ, James ND, Cheng KK, Bryan RT, Wesselius A, Zeegers MP. Health-related quality of life around the time of diagnosis in patients with bladder cancer. BJU Int 2019; 124:984-991. [PMID: 31077532 PMCID: PMC6907410 DOI: 10.1111/bju.14804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To quantify the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with bladder cancer around the time of diagnosis and to test the hypotheses of a two-factor model for the HRQoL questionnaire QLQ-C30. METHODS From participants in the Bladder Cancer Prognoses Programme, a multicentre cohort study, sociodemographic data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Answers to the QLQ-C30 were transformed into a scale from 0 to 100. HRQoL data were analysed in multivariate analyses. The hypothesized two-factor (Physical and Mental Health) domain structure of the QLQ-C30 was also tested with confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). RESULTS A total of 1160 participants (78%) completed the questionnaire after initial visual diagnosis and before pathological confirmation. Despite non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) being associated with a higher HRQoL than carcinoma invading bladder muscle, only the domain Role Functioning was clinically significantly better in patients with NMIBC. Age, gender, bladder cancer stage and comorbidity all had a significant influence on QLQ-C30 scores. The CFA showed an overall good fit of the hypothesized two-factor model. CONCLUSION This study identified a baseline reference value for HRQoL for patients with bladder cancer, which allows better evaluation of any changes in HRQoL as disease progresses or after treatment. In addition, a two-factor (Physical and Mental Health) model was developed for the QLQ-C30.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Yi‐Wen Yu
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in MetabolismUniversity of MaastrichtMaastrichtthe Netherlands
- CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of MaastrichtMaastrichtthe Netherlands
| | - Duncan Nekeman
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSchool of Health and Population SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | - Lucinda J. Billingham
- MRC Midland Hub for Trials Methodology Research and Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials UnitUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | | | - KK Cheng
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSchool of Health and Population SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamUK
| | | | - Anke Wesselius
- NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in MetabolismUniversity of MaastrichtMaastrichtthe Netherlands
| | - Maurice P. Zeegers
- CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of MaastrichtMaastrichtthe Netherlands
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Herbert A, Winters S, McPhail S, Elliss-Brookes L, Lyratzopoulos G, Abel GA. Population trends in emergency cancer diagnoses: The role of changing patient case-mix. Cancer Epidemiol 2019; 63:101574. [PMID: 31655434 PMCID: PMC6905147 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.101574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of cancer through an emergency presentation is associated with worse clinical and patient experience outcomes. The proportion of patients with cancer who are diagnosed through emergency presentations has consequently been introduced as a routine cancer surveillance measure in England. Welcome reductions in this metric have been reported over more than a decade but whether reductions reflect true changes in how patients are diagnosed rather than the changing case-mix of incident cohorts in unknown. METHODS We analysed 'Routes to Diagnosis' data on cancer patients (2006-2015) and used logistic regression modelling to determine the contribution of changes in four case-mix variables (sex, age, deprivation, cancer site) to time-trends in emergency presentations. RESULTS Between 2006 and 2015 there was an absolute 4.7 percentage point reduction in emergency presentations (23.8%-19.2%). Changing distributions of the four case-mix variables explained 19.0% of this reduction, leaving 81.0% unexplained. Changes in cancer site case-mix alone explained 16.0% of the total reduction. CONCLUSION Changes in case-mix (particularly that of cancer sites) account for about a fifth of the overall reduction in emergency presentations. This would support the use of adjustment/standardisation of reported statistics to support their interpretation and help appreciate the influence of case-mix, particularly regarding cancer sites with changing incidence. However, most of the reduction in emergency presentations remains unaccounted for, and likely reflects genuine changes during the study period in how patients were being diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Herbert
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Bristol Medical School University of Bristol Bristol UK; Epidemiology of Cancer and Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, UK
| | - S Winters
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, 6th Floor, Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road, London, UK
| | - S McPhail
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, 6th Floor, Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road, London, UK
| | - L Elliss-Brookes
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, 6th Floor, Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road, London, UK
| | - G Lyratzopoulos
- Epidemiology of Cancer and Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Group, Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, UK; National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, 6th Floor, Wellington House, 135-155 Waterloo Road, London, UK; Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, University of Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Cambridge, UK.
| | - G A Abel
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
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Dika E, Patrizi A, Lambertini M, Manuelpillai N, Fiorentino M, Altimari A, Ferracin M, Lauriola M, Fabbri E, Campione E, Veronesi G, Scarfì F. Estrogen Receptors and Melanoma: A Review. Cells 2019; 8:E1463. [PMID: 31752344 PMCID: PMC6912660 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last three decades cutaneous melanoma has been widely investigated as a steroid hormone-sensitive cancer. Following this hypothesis, many epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between estrogens and melanoma. No evidence to date has supported this association due to the great complexity of genetic, external and environmental factors underlying the development of this cancer. Molecular mechanisms through which estrogen and their receptor exert a role in melanoma genesis are still under investigation with new studies increasingly focusing on the discovery of new molecular targets for therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Dika
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
| | - Annalisa Patrizi
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
| | - Martina Lambertini
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
| | - Nicholas Manuelpillai
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
| | - Michelangelo Fiorentino
- Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.F.); (M.F.); (E.F.)
| | - Annalisa Altimari
- Laboratory of Oncologic Molecular Pathology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.F.); (M.F.); (E.F.)
| | - Mattia Lauriola
- Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology Unit Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine—DIMES University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Enrica Fabbri
- Pathology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (M.F.); (M.F.); (E.F.)
| | - Elena Campione
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giulia Veronesi
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
| | - Federica Scarfì
- Dermatology Section, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, DIMES, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (M.L.); (N.M.); (G.V.); (F.S.)
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Téllez T, García-Aranda M, Zarcos-Pedrinaci I, Rivas-Ruiz F, Pérez Ruiz E, Padilla-Ruiz MDC, Baré ML, Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Rueda A, Alcaide J, Redondo Bautista M. First hospital contact via the Emergency Department is an independent predictor of overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2019; 111:750-756. [PMID: 31345043 DOI: 10.17235/reed.2019.5777/2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS the aim of this study was to examine the possible association between the type of hospital admission and subsequent survival of the patient, as well as the pathological features recorded in a large population of patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS the study included 1,079 patients diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in the Hospital Costa del Sol (Marbella, Spain). The relationship between patient survival rate and type of first admission to the hospital (elective or emergency admission) was assessed. The following variables were studied: age, gender, tumor location, pathological stage, differentiation grade, chemotherapy before surgery and survival. RESULTS colon tumors are more common in patients admitted to hospital for the first time via the emergency service (63.7%) and the tumors tend to be poorly differentiated (64.2%) and metastatic (70%). These patients also present a more aggressive disease and a poorer prognosis than patients with an elective admission. With regard to patients from the Emergency Department, a Cox regression analysis showed a risk-ratio (RR) of 1.36 (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 1.11-1.66) for disease-free survival and of 1.41 (95% CI: 1.14-1.76) for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS hospital admission via the Emergency Department is an indicator of aggressiveness and poorer prognosis compared to patients who enter via programmed routes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Julia Alcaide
- Departamento de Hematología y Oncología, Hospital Costa del Sol
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor geographical access to health services and routes to a cancer diagnosis such as emergency presentations have previously been associated with worse cancer outcomes. However, the extent to which access to GPs determines the route that patients take to obtain a cancer diagnosis is unknown. METHODS We used a linked dataset of cancer registry and hospital records of patients with a cancer diagnosis between 2006 and 2010 across eight different cancer sites. Primary outcomes were defined as 'desirable routes to diagnosis' [screen-detected and 2-week wait (TWW) referrals] and 'less desirable routes' [emergency presentations and death certificate only (DCO)]. All other routes (GP referral, inpatient elective and other outpatient) were specified as the reference category. Geographical access was measured as travel time in minutes from patients to their GP, and multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR). RESULTS Longer travel was associated with increased risk of diagnosis via emergency and DCO, but decreased risk of diagnosis via screening and TWW. Patients travelling over 30 minutes had the highest risk of a DCO diagnosis, which was statistically significant for breast, colorectal, lung, prostate, stomach and ovarian cancers (compared with patients with travel times ≤10 minutes: RRR 5.89, 7.02, 2.30, 4.75, 10.41; P < 0.01 and 3.51, P < 0.05). DISCUSSION Poor access to GPs may discourage early engagement with health services, decreasing the likelihood of screening uptake and increasing the likelihood of emergency presentations. Extra effort is needed to promote early diagnosis in more distant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peninah Murage
- Norwich Medical School, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Max O Bachmann
- Norwich Medical School, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Sean McPhail
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, Public Health England, Bristol, UK
| | - Andy Jones
- Norwich Medical School, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Renzi C, Lyratzopoulos G, Hamilton W, Maringe C, Rachet B. Contrasting effects of comorbidities on emergency colon cancer diagnosis: a longitudinal data-linkage study in England. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:311. [PMID: 31092238 PMCID: PMC6521448 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4075-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One in three colon cancers are diagnosed as an emergency, which is associated with worse cancer outcomes. Chronic conditions (comorbidities) affect large proportions of adults and they might influence the risk of emergency presentations (EP). METHODS We aimed to evaluate the effect of specific pre-existing comorbidities on the risk of colon cancer being diagnosed following an EP rather than through non-emergency routes. The cohort study included 5745 colon cancer patients diagnosed in England 2005-2010, with individually-linked cancer registry, primary and secondary care data. In addition to multivariable analyses we also used potential-outcomes methods. RESULTS Colon cancer patients with comorbidities consulted their GP more frequently with cancer symptoms during the pre-diagnostic year, compared with non-comorbid cancer patients. EP occurred more frequently in patients with 'serious' or complex comorbidities (diabetes, cardiac and respiratory diseases) diagnosed/treated in hospital during the years pre-cancer diagnosis (43% EP in comorbid versus 27% in non-comorbid individuals; multivariable analysis Odds Ratio (OR), controlling for socio-demographic factors and symptoms: men OR = 2.40; 95% CI 2.0-2.9 and women OR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.6-2.4. Among women younger than 60, gynaecological (OR = 3.41; 95% CI 1.2-9.9) or recent onset gastro-intestinal conditions (OR = 2.84; 95% CI 1.1-7.7) increased the risk of EP. In contrast, primary care visits for hypertension monitoring decreased EPs for both genders. CONCLUSIONS Patients with comorbidities have a greater risk of being diagnosed with cancer as an emergency, although they consult more frequently with cancer symptoms during the year pre-cancer diagnosis. This suggests that comorbidities may interfere with diagnostic reasoning or investigations due to 'competing demands' or because they provide 'alternative explanations'. In contrast, the management of chronic risk factors such as hypertension may offer opportunities for earlier diagnosis. Interventions are needed to support the diagnostic process in comorbid patients. Appropriate guidelines and diagnostic services to support the evaluation of new or changing symptoms in comorbid patients may be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Renzi
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, ECHO (Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes) Research Group, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT UK
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, ECHO (Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare & Outcomes) Research Group, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Willie Hamilton
- University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU UK
| | - Camille Maringe
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Bernard Rachet
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HT UK
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Bukavina L, Mishra K, Mahran A, Shekar A, Sheyn D, Slopnick E, Hijaz A, Jankowski J, Ponsky L, Nguyen C. Gender Disparity in Cystectomy Postoperative Outcomes: Propensity Score Analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. Eur Urol Oncol 2019; 4:84-92. [PMID: 31368436 DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While female gender is considered a protective determinant in the majority of cancers, outcomes in women diagnosed with bladder cancer have continued to show disproportional mortality when compared with men. OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective propensity score-matched analysis was to evaluate the intra- and postoperative differences among genders, as well as to evaluate reproductive organ-preserving radical cystectomy (ROPRC) as compared with radical cystectomy (RC) as a potential confounder in female cystectomy patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), men and women undergoing a cystectomy between 2011 and 2017 were analyzed. In addition, females undergoing ROPRC and RC were analyzed for immediate postoperative outcomes. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Men and women undergoing a cystectomy were evaluated through propensity score matching (PSM) for baseline differences using a 1:1 caliper width of 0.2 to the nearest neighbor. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, we evaluated differences in the risk of readmission, complications, and reoperation in the immediate postsurgical period in males and females. Similarly, differences were assessed in ROPRC and RC groups. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS We achieved a balance between males and females after PSM: 1263 males and 1263 females treated with cystectomy. The risks of readmission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.228 [1.005-1.510], p=0.045), superficial surgical site infection (aOR 1.507 [1.095-2.086], p=0.012), and transfusion (aOR 2.031 [1.713-2.411], p<0.001) were increased in females undergoing a cystectomy compared with males. No differences were observed in surgical outcomes in ovarian sparing/RC cohort. CONCLUSIONS Using the 2011-2017 NSQIP database, we were able to demonstrate an increased rate of postoperative transfusion, readmission rate, and surgical site infection in females who underwent cystectomy. Our findings suggest that females experience an increased rate of complications in the immediate postoperative period. This may ultimately lead to worse oncologic outcomes in females after an RC. Lastly, we did not find any increased rate of complications in ROPRC as compared with RC. PATIENT SUMMARY This study highlights differences in immediate postoperative outcomes between males and females undergoing cystectomy for bladder cancer. Some of these potential differences include higher risk of infection, transfusion, and readmission. These differences may predispose females to worse long-term outcomes. In addition, due to potential benefits of ovarian preservation in the recent literature, we also evaluated the risks and complications of ovarian sparing cystectomy. We found ovarian preservation to be a safe and feasible procedure in a highly selected group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bukavina
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kirtishri Mishra
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Amr Mahran
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anjali Shekar
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - David Sheyn
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Emily Slopnick
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Adoniz Hijaz
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jason Jankowski
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lee Ponsky
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Urology Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Carvell Nguyen
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA; Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Renzi C, Lyratzopoulos G, Hamilton W, Rachet B. Opportunities for reducing emergency diagnoses of colon cancer in women and men: A data-linkage study on pre-diagnostic symptomatic presentations and benign diagnoses. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019; 28:e13000. [PMID: 30734381 PMCID: PMC6492167 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify opportunities for reducing emergency colon cancer diagnoses, we evaluated symptoms and benign diagnoses recorded before emergency presentations (EP). METHODS Cohort of 5,745 colon cancers diagnosed in England 2005-2010, with individually linked cancer registry and primary care data for the 5-year pre-diagnostic period. RESULTS Colon cancer was diagnosed following EP in 34% of women and 30% of men. Among emergency presenters, 20% of women and 15% of men (p = 0.002) had alarm symptoms (anaemia/rectal bleeding/change in bowel habit) 2-12 months pre-diagnosis. Women with abdominal symptoms (change in bowel habit/constipation/diarrhoea) received a benign diagnosis (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)/diverticular disease) more frequently than men in the year before EP: 12% vs. 6% among women and men (p = 0.002). EP was more likely in women (OR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.1-1.4), independently of socio-demographic factors and symptoms. Benign diagnoses in the pre-diagnostic year (OR = 2.01; 95% CI 1.2-3.3) and anaemia 2-5 years pre-diagnosis (OR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.2-3.0) increased the risk of EP in women but not men. The risk was particularly high for women aged 40-59 with a recent benign diagnosis vs. none (OR = 4.41; 95% CI 1.3-14.9). CONCLUSIONS Women have an increased risk of EP, in part due to less specific symptoms and their more frequent attribution to benign diagnoses. For women aged 40-59 years with new-onset IBS/diverticular disease innovative diagnostic strategies are needed, which might include use of quantitative faecal haemoglobin testing (FIT) or other colorectal cancer investigations. One-fifth of women had alarm symptoms before EP, offering opportunities for earlier diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Renzi
- Department of Behavioural Science and HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Cancer Survival Group, Department of Non‐communicable Disease EpidemiologyLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | | | | | - Bernard Rachet
- Cancer Survival Group, Department of Non‐communicable Disease EpidemiologyLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
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Herbert A, Abel GA, Winters S, McPhail S, Elliss-Brookes L, Lyratzopoulos G. Are inequalities in cancer diagnosis through emergency presentation narrowing, widening or remaining unchanged? Longitudinal analysis of English population-based data 2006-2013. J Epidemiol Community Health 2019; 73:3-10. [PMID: 30409920 PMCID: PMC6839789 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2017-210371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of cancer through emergency presentation is associated with poorer prognosis. While reductions in emergency presentations have been described, whether known sociodemographic inequalities are changing is uncertain. METHODS We analysed 'Routes to Diagnosis' data on patients aged ≥25 years diagnosed in England during 2006-2013 with any of 33 common or rarer cancers. Using binary logistic regression we determined time-trends in diagnosis through emergency presentation by age, deprivation and cancer site. RESULTS Overall adjusted proportions of emergency presentations decreased during the study period (2006: 23%, 2013: 20%). Substantial baseline (2006) inequalities in emergency presentation risk by age and deprivation remained largely unchanged. There was evidence (p<0.05) of reductions in the risk of emergency presentations for most (28/33) cancer sites, without apparent associations between the size of reduction and baseline risk (p=0.26). If there had been modest reductions in age inequalities (ie, patients in each age group acquiring the same percentage of emergency presentations as the adjacent group with lower risk), in the last study year we could have expected around 11 000 fewer diagnoses through emergency presentation (ie, a nationwide percentage of 16% rather than the observed 20%). For similarly modest reductions in deprivation inequalities, we could have expected around 3000 fewer (ie, 19%). CONCLUSION The proportion of cancer diagnoses through emergency presentation is decreasing but age and deprivation inequalities prevail, indicating untapped opportunities for further improvements by reducing these inequalities. The observed reductions in proportions across nearly all cancer sites are likely to reflect both earlier help-seeking and improvements in diagnostic healthcare pathways, across both easier-to-suspect and harder-to-suspect cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Herbert
- ECHO (Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gary A Abel
- University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), Exeter, UK
| | - Sam Winters
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Sean McPhail
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Lucy Elliss-Brookes
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Georgios Lyratzopoulos
- ECHO (Epidemiology of Cancer Healthcare and Outcomes) Research Group, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS), Public Health England, London, UK
- THIS (The Health Improvement Studies) Institute, and Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK
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Kostopoulou O, Nurek M, Cantarella S, Okoli G, Fiorentino F, Delaney BC. Referral Decision Making of General Practitioners: A Signal Detection Study. Med Decis Making 2019; 39:21-31. [PMID: 30799690 PMCID: PMC6311616 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x18813357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signal detection theory (SDT) describes how respondents categorize ambiguous stimuli over repeated trials. It measures separately "discrimination" (ability to recognize a signal amid noise) and "criterion" (inclination to respond "signal" v. "noise"). This is important because respondents may produce the same accuracy rate for different reasons. We employed SDT to measure the referral decision making of general practitioners (GPs) in cases of possible lung cancer. METHODS We constructed 44 vignettes of patients for whom lung cancer could be considered and estimated their 1-year risk. Under UK risk-based guidelines, half of the vignettes required urgent referral. We recruited 216 GPs from practices across England. Practices differed in the positive predictive value (PPV) of their urgent referrals (chance of referrals identifying cancer) and the sensitivity (chance of cancer patients being picked up via urgent referral from their practice). Participants saw the vignettes online and indicated whether they would refer each patient urgently or not. We calculated each GP's discrimination ( d ') and criterion ( c) and regressed these on practice PPV and sensitivity, as well as on GP experience and gender. RESULTS Criterion was associated with practice PPV: as PPV increased, GPs' c also increased, indicating lower inclination to refer ( b = 0.06 [0.02-0.09]; P = 0.001). Female GPs were more inclined to refer than male GPs ( b = -0.20 [-0.40 to -0.001]; P = 0.049). Average discrimination was modest ( d' = 0.77), highly variable (range, -0.28 to 1.91), and not associated with practice referral performance. CONCLUSIONS High referral PPV at the organizational level indicates GPs' inclination to avoid false positives, not better discrimination. Rather than bluntly mandating increases in practice PPV via more referrals, it is necessary to increase discrimination by improving the evidence base for cancer referral decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Kostopoulou
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martine Nurek
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Simona Cantarella
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Grace Okoli
- School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Francesca Fiorentino
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Brendan C. Delaney
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Esteva M, Ruiz-Díaz M, Sánchez MA, Pértega S, Pita-Fernández S, Macià F, Posso M, González-Luján L, Boscá-Wats MM, Leiva A, Ripoll J. Emergency presentation of colorectal patients in Spain. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203556. [PMID: 30273339 PMCID: PMC6166931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Europe. Survival is poorer in patients admitted to hospitals through the emergency department than in electively admitted patients. Knowledge of factors associated with a cancer diagnosis through presentation at an emergency department may reduce the likelihood of an emergency diagnosis. This study evaluated factors influencing the diagnosis of CRC in the emergency department. Methods and findings This is a cross-sectional study in 5 Spanish regions; subjects were incident cases of CRC diagnosed in 9 public hospitals, between 2006 and 2008. Data were obtained from patient interviews and primary care and hospital clinical records. We found that approximately 40% of CRC patients first contacted a hospital for CRC through an emergency service. Women were more likely than men to be emergency presenters. The type of symptom associated with emergency presentation differed between patients with colon cancer and those with rectal cancer, in that the frequency of “alarm symptoms” was significantly lower in colon than in rectal cancer patients who initially presented to emergency services. Soon after symptom onset, some patients went to a hospital emergency service, whereas others contacted their GP. Lack of contact with a GP for CRC-related symptoms was consistently related to emergency presentation. Among patients who contacted a GP, a higher number of consultations for CRC symptoms and any referral to outpatient consultations reduced the likelihood of emergency presentation. All diagnostic time intervals were shorter in emergency presenters than in elective patients. Conclusions Emergency presenters are not a uniform category and can be divided into categories according to their symptoms, help seeking behavior trajectory and interaction with their GPs. Time constraints for testing and delays in obtaining outpatient appointments led patients to visit a hospital service either on their own or after referral by their GP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Esteva
- Primary Care Research Unit, Majorca Department of Primary Care; Baleares Health Service [IbSalut], Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Majorca, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | | | - M. Antonia Sánchez
- Centro de Salud Fuentes Norte Zaragoza, Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Pértega
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), SERGAS, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, España
| | - Salvador Pita-Fernández
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), SERGAS, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, España
| | - Francesc Macià
- Epidemiology and Evaluation Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- REDISSEC (Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network), Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita Posso
- Epidemiology and Evaluation Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- REDISSEC (Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis González-Luján
- Serreria II Primary Care Centre, Valencia Institute of Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta M. Boscá-Wats
- Digestive Medicine Unit, Hospital Clinic Universitari de València, València, Spain
| | - Alfonso Leiva
- Primary Care Research Unit, Majorca Department of Primary Care; Baleares Health Service [IbSalut], Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Majorca, Spain
| | - Joana Ripoll
- Primary Care Research Unit, Majorca Department of Primary Care; Baleares Health Service [IbSalut], Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Majorca, Spain
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White A, Ironmonger L, Steele RJC, Ormiston-Smith N, Crawford C, Seims A. A review of sex-related differences in colorectal cancer incidence, screening uptake, routes to diagnosis, cancer stage and survival in the UK. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:906. [PMID: 30236083 PMCID: PMC6149054 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4786-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an illness strongly influenced by sex and gender, with mortality rates in males significantly higher than females. There is still a dearth of understanding on where sex differences exist along the pathway from presentation to survival. The aim of this review is to identify where actions are needed to improve outcomes for both sexes, and to narrow the gap for CRC. Methods A cross-sectional review of national data was undertaken to identify sex differences in incidence, screening uptake, route to diagnosis, cancer stage at diagnosis and survival, and their influence in the sex differences in mortality. Results Overall incidence is higher in men, with an earlier age distribution, however, important sex differences exist in anatomical site. There were relatively small differences in screening uptake, route to diagnosis, cancer staging at diagnosis and survival. Screening uptake is higher in women under 69 years. Women are more likely to present as emergency cases, with more men diagnosed through screening and two-week-wait. No sex differences are seen in diagnosis for more advanced disease. Overall, age-standardised 5-year survival is similar between the sexes. Conclusions As there are minimal sex differences in the data from routes to diagnosis to survival, the higher mortality of colorectal cancer in men appears to be a result of exogenous and/or endogenous factors pre-diagnosis that lead to higher incidence rates. There are however, sex and gender differences that suggest more targeted interventions may facilitate prevention and earlier diagnosis in both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan White
- Institute of Health & Wellbeing, Leeds Beckett University, Civic Quarter, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK.
| | - Lucy Ironmonger
- Cancer Research UK, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London, EC1V 4A, UK
| | - Robert J C Steele
- Division of Cancer Research, Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention and Screening (CRiPS), University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Nick Ormiston-Smith
- Department of Health, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, Brisbane, 4006, QLD, Australia
| | - Carina Crawford
- Cancer Research UK, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London, EC1V 4A, UK
| | - Amanda Seims
- Institute of Health & Wellbeing, Leeds Beckett University, Civic Quarter, Leeds, LS1 3HE, UK
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Yap S, Goldsbury D, Yap ML, Yuill S, Rankin N, Weber M, Canfell K, O’Connell DL. Patterns of care and emergency presentations for people with non-small cell lung cancer in New South Wales, Australia: A population-based study. Lung Cancer 2018; 122:171-179. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Maringe C, Pashayan N, Rubio FJ, Ploubidis G, Duffy SW, Rachet B, Raine R. Trends in lung cancer emergency presentation in England, 2006-2013: is there a pattern by general practice? BMC Cancer 2018; 18:615. [PMID: 29855264 PMCID: PMC5984417 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4476-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency presentations (EP) represent over a third of all lung cancer admissions in England. Such presentations usually reflect late stage disease and are associated with poor survival. General practitioners (GPs) act as gate-keepers to secondary care and so we sought to understand the association between GP practice characteristics and lung cancer EP. METHODS Data on general practice characteristics were extracted for all practices in England from the Quality Outcomes Framework, the Health and Social Care Information Centre, the GP Patient Survey, the Cancer Commissioning Toolkit and the area deprivation score for each practice. After linking these data to lung cancer patient registrations in 2006-2013, we explored trends in three types of EP, patient-led, GP-led and 'other', by general practice characteristics and by socio-demographic characteristics of patients. RESULTS Overall proportions of lung cancer EP decreased from 37.9% in 2006 to 34.3% in 2013. Proportions of GP-led EP nearly halved during this period, from 28.3 to 16.3%, whilst patient-led emergency presentations rose from 62.1 to 66.7%. When focusing on practice-specific levels of EP, 14% of general practices had higher than expected proportions of EP at least once in 2006-13, but there was no evidence of clustering of patients within practice, meaning that none of the practice characteristics examined explained differing proportions of EP by practice. CONCLUSION We found that the high proportion of lung cancer EP is not the result of a few practices with very abnormal patterns of EP, but of a large number of practices susceptible to reaching high proportions of EP. This suggests a system-wide issue, rather than problems with specific practices. High proportions of lung cancer EP are mainly the result of patient-initiated attendances in A&E. Our results demonstrate that interventions to encourage patients not to bypass primary care must be system wide rather than targeted at specific practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Maringe
- Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Nora Pashayan
- University College London, Department of Applied Health Research, London, UK
| | - Francisco Javier Rubio
- Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - George Ploubidis
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Department of Social Science, UCL - Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen W. Duffy
- Queen Mary University of London, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Centre for Cancer Prevention, London, UK
| | - Bernard Rachet
- Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel street, London, WC1E 7HT UK
| | - Rosalind Raine
- University College London, Department of Applied Health Research, London, UK
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Abstract
In universal health care systems such as the English National Health Service, equality of access is a core principle, and health care is free at the point of delivery. However, even within a universal system, disparities in care and costs exist along a socioeconomic gradient. Little is known about socioeconomic disparities at the end of life and how they affect health care costs. This study examines disparities in end-of-life treatment costs for cancer patients in England. Analyzing data on over 250,000 colorectal, breast, prostate, and lung cancer patients from multiple national databases, we found evidence illustrating that disparities are driven largely by the greater use of emergency inpatient care among patients of lower socioeconomic status. Even within a system with free health care, differences in the use of care create disparities in cancer costs. While further studies of these barriers is required, our research suggests that disparities may be reduced through better management of needs through the use of less expensive and more effective health care settings and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Walsh
- Brendan Walsh is a research officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, Ireland, and a research affiliate in the School of Health Sciences, City University of London, in England
| | - Mauro Laudicella
- Mauro Laudicella is a senior lecturer at City University of London
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