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Tørring ML, Murchie P, Hamilton W, Vedsted P, Esteva M, Lautrup M, Winget M, Rubin G. Evidence of advanced stage colorectal cancer with longer diagnostic intervals: a pooled analysis of seven primary care cohorts comprising 11 720 patients in five countries. Br J Cancer 2017; 117:888-897. [PMID: 28787432 PMCID: PMC5589987 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The benefits from expedited diagnosis of symptomatic cancer are uncertain. We aimed to analyse the relationship between stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) and the primary and specialist care components of the diagnostic interval. Methods: We identified seven independent data sets from population-based studies in Scotland, England, Canada, Denmark and Spain during 1997–2010 with a total of 11 720 newly diagnosed CRC patients, who had initially presented with symptoms to a primary care physician. Data were extracted from patient records, registries, audits and questionnaires, respectively. Data sets were required to hold information on dates in the diagnostic interval (defined as the time from the first presentation of symptoms in primary care until the date of diagnosis), symptoms at first presentation in primary care, route of referral, gender, age and histologically confirmed stage. We carried out reanalysis of all individual data sets and, using the same method, analysed a pooled individual patient data set. Results: The association between intervals and stage was similar in the individual and combined data set. There was a statistically significant convex (∩-shaped) association between primary care interval and diagnosis of advanced (i.e., distant or regional) rather than localised CRC (P=0.004), with odds beginning to increase from the first day on and peaking at 90 days. For specialist care, we saw an opposite and statistically significant concave (∪-shaped) association, with a trough at 60 days, between the interval and diagnosis of advanced CRC (P<0.001). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that longer diagnostic intervals are associated with more advanced CRC. Furthermore, the study cannot define a specific ‘safe’ waiting time as the length of the primary care interval appears to have negative impact from day one.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Tørring
- Department of Anthropology, School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University, Moesgaard Allé 20, Højbjerg DK-8270, Denmark
| | - P Murchie
- Division of Applied Health Sciences, Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - W Hamilton
- University of Exeter, College House, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter EX1 2 LU, UK
| | - P Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 20, Aarhus C DK-8000, Denmark
| | - M Esteva
- Primary Care Research Unit, Primary Care Majorca Department, Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Reina Esclaramunda 9, Palma Mallorca 07003, Spain
| | - M Lautrup
- Department of Organ and Plastic Surgery, Breast Centre, Vejle Hospital, Kabbeltoft 25, Vejle DK-7100, Denmark
| | - M Winget
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road, MSOB #X214, Stanford, California CA 94305, USA
| | - G Rubin
- School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, Queen's Campus, University Boulevard, Stockton on Tees, England TS17 6BH, UK
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Neal RD, Tharmanathan P, France B, Din NU, Cotton S, Fallon-Ferguson J, Hamilton W, Hendry A, Hendry M, Lewis R, Macleod U, Mitchell ED, Pickett M, Rai T, Shaw K, Stuart N, Tørring ML, Wilkinson C, Williams B, Williams N, Emery J. Is increased time to diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic cancer associated with poorer outcomes? Systematic review. Br J Cancer 2015; 112 Suppl 1:S92-107. [PMID: 25734382 PMCID: PMC4385982 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 614] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.2] [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] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether more timely cancer diagnosis brings favourable outcomes, with much of the previous evidence, in some cancers, being equivocal. We set out to determine whether there is an association between time to diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes, across all cancers for symptomatic presentations. METHODS Systematic review of the literature and narrative synthesis. RESULTS We included 177 articles reporting 209 studies. These studies varied in study design, the time intervals assessed and the outcomes reported. Study quality was variable, with a small number of higher-quality studies. Heterogeneity precluded definitive findings. The cancers with more reports of an association between shorter times to diagnosis and more favourable outcomes were breast, colorectal, head and neck, testicular and melanoma. CONCLUSIONS This is the first review encompassing many cancer types, and we have demonstrated those cancers in which more evidence of an association between shorter times to diagnosis and more favourable outcomes exists, and where it is lacking. We believe that it is reasonable to assume that efforts to expedite the diagnosis of symptomatic cancer are likely to have benefits for patients in terms of improved survival, earlier-stage diagnosis and improved quality of life, although these benefits vary between cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Neal
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - P Tharmanathan
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - B France
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - N U Din
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - S Cotton
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham LL13 7TD, UK
| | - J Fallon-Ferguson
- Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, School of Primary, Aboriginal, and Rural Healthcare, University of Western Australia, M706, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - W Hamilton
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - A Hendry
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - M Hendry
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - R Lewis
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - U Macleod
- Centre for Health and Population studies, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - E D Mitchell
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9LJ, UK
| | - M Pickett
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Wrexham LL13 7TD, UK
| | - T Rai
- North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2PZ, UK
| | - K Shaw
- Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, School of Primary, Aboriginal, and Rural Healthcare, University of Western Australia, M706, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - N Stuart
- School of Medical Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2AS UK
| | - M L Tørring
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark
| | - C Wilkinson
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
| | - B Williams
- Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, School of Primary, Aboriginal, and Rural Healthcare, University of Western Australia, M706, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - N Williams
- North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, Bangor LL13 7YP, UK
- North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2PZ, UK
| | - J Emery
- Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, School of Primary, Aboriginal, and Rural Healthcare, University of Western Australia, M706, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- General Practice & Primary Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
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Tørring ML, Frydenberg M, Hansen RP, Olesen F, Hamilton W, Vedsted P. Time to diagnosis and mortality in colorectal cancer: a cohort study in primary care. Br J Cancer 2011; 104:934-40. [PMID: 21364593 PMCID: PMC3065288 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [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] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The relationship between the diagnostic interval and mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. This association was examined by taking account of important confounding factors at the time of first presentation of symptoms in primary care. Methods: A total of 268 patients with CRC were included in a prospective, population-based study in a Danish county. The diagnostic interval was defined as the time from first presentation of symptoms until diagnosis. We analysed patients separately according to the general practitioner's interpretation of symptoms. Logistic regression was used to estimate 3-year mortality odds ratios as a function of the diagnostic interval using restricted cubic splines and adjusting for tumour site, comorbidity, age, and sex. Results: In patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of cancer or any other serious illness, the risk of dying within 3 years decreased with diagnostic intervals up to 5 weeks and then increased (P=0.002). In patients presenting with vague symptoms, the association was reverse, although not statistically significant. Conclusion: Detecting cancer in primary care is two sided: aimed at expediting ill patients while preventing healthy people from going to hospital. This likely explains the counterintuitive findings; but it does not explain the increasing mortality with longer diagnostic intervals. Thus, this study provides evidence for the hypothesis that the length of the diagnostic interval affects mortality in CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Tørring
- The Research Unit for General Practice, Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, School of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholin Allé 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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