BACKGROUND: There are large differences in socio-economic growth within the region of South East Asia, leading to sharp contrasts in health-systems development between countries. This study compares breast cancer presentation and outcome between patients from a high income country (Singapore) and a middle income country (Malaysia) in South East Asia. METHODS: Within the Singapore Malaysia Breast Cancer Registry we identified all consecutive patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 2007 at the National University Hospital in Singapore (high income country, n=2,141) and the University of Malaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (middle income country, n=3,320). We compared demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival between patients from both countries. RESULTS: In Malaysia, patients were less often diagnosed with in situ breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 0.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.1-0.3), more likely to be diagnosed with late stage (III and IV) disease (ORadj for stage III 1.6; 95% CI 1.3-2.0; ORadj for stage IV 1.2; 95% CI 1.1-1.4) as compared to patients from Singapore. Univariate analysis showed that Malaysian patients were at a 72% increased risk of death as compared to Singaporeans. After adjusting for other prognostic factors, the risk decreased by only 5% (ORadj 1.67, 95% CI 1.44-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in way of presentation (except stage and tumor size) and treatment of breast cancer patients from the two countries are small. The overall survival of breast cancer patients from Malaysia is much lower than that of Singaporean patients.
BACKGROUND: There are large differences in socio-economic growth within the region of South East Asia, leading to sharp contrasts in health-systems development between countries. This study compares breast cancer presentation and outcome between patients from a high income country (Singapore) and a middle income country (Malaysia) in South East Asia. METHODS: Within the Singapore Malaysia Breast Cancer Registry we identified all consecutive patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 2007 at the National University Hospital in Singapore (high income country, n=2,141) and the University of Malaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (middle income country, n=3,320). We compared demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival between patients from both countries. RESULTS: In Malaysia, patients were less often diagnosed with in situ breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 0.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.1-0.3), more likely to be diagnosed with late stage (III and IV) disease (ORadj for stage III 1.6; 95% CI 1.3-2.0; ORadj for stage IV 1.2; 95% CI 1.1-1.4) as compared to patients from Singapore. Univariate analysis showed that Malaysian patients were at a 72% increased risk of death as compared to Singaporeans. After adjusting for other prognostic factors, the risk decreased by only 5% (ORadj 1.67, 95% CI 1.44-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in way of presentation (except stage and tumor size) and treatment of breast cancerpatients from the two countries are small. The overall survival of breast cancerpatients from Malaysia is much lower than that of Singaporean patients.
Authors: Nirmala Bhoo Pathy; Cheng Har Yip; Nur Aishah Taib; Mikael Hartman; Nakul Saxena; Philip Iau; Awang M Bulgiba; Soo Chin Lee; Siew Eng Lim; John E L Wong; Helena M Verkooijen Journal: Breast Date: 2011-02-12 Impact factor: 4.380
Authors: A M Fontenoy; C Leux; S Delacour-Billon; C Allioux; J S Frenel; M Campone; F Molinié Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2010-04-20 Impact factor: 2.984
Authors: Peter M Ravdin; Kathleen A Cronin; Nadia Howlader; Christine D Berg; Rowan T Chlebowski; Eric J Feuer; Brenda K Edwards; Donald A Berry Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2007-04-19 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Jennifer N W Lim; Barbara Potrata; Leonardo Simonella; Celene W Q Ng; Tar-Ching Aw; Maznah Dahlui; Mikael Hartman; Rifhan Mazlan; Nur Aishah Taib Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Marcelo Sobral-Leite; Esther H Lips; Hayra de Andrade Vieira-Monteiro; Letícia Carlos Giacomin; Daniely Regina Freitas-Alves; Sten Cornelissen; Lennart Mulder; Jelle Wesseling; Marjanka K Schmidt; Rosane Vianna-Jorge Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-12-21 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: René Aloísio da Costa Vieira; Gabriele Biller; Gilberto Uemura; Carlos Alberto Ruiz; Maria Paula Curado Journal: Clinics (Sao Paulo) Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 2.365