Linda Willén1, Anders Berglund2, Stefan Bergström3, Michael Bergqvist4, Anna Öjdahl-Bodén5, Gunnar Wagenius6, Mats Lambe7. 1. Center for Research and Development, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg, Sweden; Department of Radiation Sciences and Oncology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Oncology, Gävle Hospital, Gävle, Sweden. Electronic address: linda.willen@regiongavleborg.se. 2. EpiStat, Uppsala, Sweden. 3. Center for Research and Development, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg, Sweden; Department of Oncology, Gävle Hospital, Gävle, Sweden. 4. Center for Research and Development, Uppsala University/Region Gävleborg, Sweden; Department of Radiation Sciences and Oncology, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Oncology, Gävle Hospital, Gävle, Sweden. 5. Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Regional Cancer Center Uppsala Örebro, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We examined associations between educational level and clinical presentation, patterns of management and mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Sweden, a country with a National Health Care System. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 39,671 patients with a NSCLC diagnosis 2002-2016 in Lung Cancer Data Base Sweden (LCBaSe), a population-based research database. In analyses adjusted for comorbidity and other prognostic factors, odds Ratios (OR) and hazard Ratios (HR) were estimated to examine associations between patients' educational level and aspects of management and mortality. RESULTS: Stage at diagnosis and waiting times did not differ between educational groups. In multivariable analysis, the likelihood to undergo PET/CT and assessment in a multidisciplinary team setting were higher in patients with high compared to low education (aOR 1.14; CI 1.05-1.23 and aOR 1.22; CI 1.14-1.32, respectively). In patients with early stage IA-IIB disease, the likelihood to undergo stereotactic radiotherapy was elevated in patients with high education (aOR 1.40; CI 1.03-1.91). Both all-cause (aHR 0.86; CI 0.77-0.92) and cause-specific mortality (aHR 0.83; CI 0.74-0.92) was lower in patients with high compared to low education in early stage disease (IA-IIB). In higher stage NSCLC no differences were observed. Patterns were similar in separate assessments stratified by sex and histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: While stage at diagnosis and waiting times did not differ between educational groups, we found socioeconomic differences in diagnostic intensity, multidisciplinary team assessment, stereotactic radiotherapy and mortality in patients with NSCLC. These findings may in part reflect social gradients in implementation and use of novel diagnostic and treatment modalities. Our findings underscore the need for improved adherence to national guidelines.
OBJECTIVES: We examined associations between educational level and clinical presentation, patterns of management and mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Sweden, a country with a National Health Care System. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 39,671 patients with a NSCLC diagnosis 2002-2016 in Lung Cancer Data Base Sweden (LCBaSe), a population-based research database. In analyses adjusted for comorbidity and other prognostic factors, odds Ratios (OR) and hazard Ratios (HR) were estimated to examine associations between patients' educational level and aspects of management and mortality. RESULTS: Stage at diagnosis and waiting times did not differ between educational groups. In multivariable analysis, the likelihood to undergo PET/CT and assessment in a multidisciplinary team setting were higher in patients with high compared to low education (aOR 1.14; CI 1.05-1.23 and aOR 1.22; CI 1.14-1.32, respectively). In patients with early stage IA-IIB disease, the likelihood to undergo stereotactic radiotherapy was elevated in patients with high education (aOR 1.40; CI 1.03-1.91). Both all-cause (aHR 0.86; CI 0.77-0.92) and cause-specific mortality (aHR 0.83; CI 0.74-0.92) was lower in patients with high compared to low education in early stage disease (IA-IIB). In higher stage NSCLC no differences were observed. Patterns were similar in separate assessments stratified by sex and histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: While stage at diagnosis and waiting times did not differ between educational groups, we found socioeconomic differences in diagnostic intensity, multidisciplinary team assessment, stereotactic radiotherapy and mortality in patients with NSCLC. These findings may in part reflect social gradients in implementation and use of novel diagnostic and treatment modalities. Our findings underscore the need for improved adherence to national guidelines.
Authors: Barbara L Andersen; Joseph P McElroy; David P Carbone; Carolyn J Presley; Rachel M Smith; Peter G Shields; Guy N Brock Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2022 Feb-Mar 01 Impact factor: 3.864
Authors: Lucy B Spalluto; Jennifer A Lewis; Sageline LaBaze; Kim L Sandler; Alexis B Paulson; Carol Callaway-Lane; Eric L Grogan; Pierre P Massion; Christianne L Roumie Journal: J Am Coll Radiol Date: 2019-09-06 Impact factor: 5.532