Mari Kajiwara Saito1, Manuela Quaresma2, Helen Fowler3, Sara Benitez Majano4, Bernard Rachet5. 1. Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: marisaito.lshtm@gmail.com. 2. Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: Manuela.quaresma@lshtm.ac.uk. 3. Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: helen.fowler@lshtm.ac.uk. 4. Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: sara.benitez.majano@lshtm.ac.uk. 5. Inequalities in Cancer Outcomes Network, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: bernard.rachet@lshtm.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A persistent socioeconomic gap in colon cancer survival is observed in England. Provision of cancer care may also vary by socioeconomic status (SES). We investigated population-based data to explore differential surgical care by SES. METHODS: We analysed a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with colon cancer in England (2010-2013). We examined patterns of presentation and surgery by SES, and whether socioeconomic differences exist in the length of time from diagnosis to elective major resection using linear regression. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 169 patients with colon cancer, 21.0 % (3138/14 917) in the most affluent group had emergency presentation (EP) whereas 27.9 % (2901/10 386) in the most deprived. Among 45 332 (66.5 %) patients who underwent resection, the proportion of patients receiving urgent surgery (surgery before or ≤ 7 days of diagnosis) was higher in the most deprived group (39.9 %, 2685/6733) than the most affluent (35.4 %, 3595/10 146). Days from diagnosis to elective surgery (surgery > 7 days after diagnosis) ranged from 33.9 (95 % CI 33.1-34.8) in stage II to 38.2 (95 % CI 36.8-39.7) in stage I, but no socioeconomic differences in time were seen in all stages. CONCLUSIONS: Time to elective surgery for colon cancer did not differ by SES, whereas a higher proportion among deprived patients tended to be diagnosed through EP and to receive urgent surgery. These results suggest that the waiting time target may not be an appropriate measure to assess access to cancer care. Reducing both EP and urgent surgery should be a key policy target.
BACKGROUND: A persistent socioeconomic gap in colon cancer survival is observed in England. Provision of cancer care may also vary by socioeconomic status (SES). We investigated population-based data to explore differential surgical care by SES. METHODS: We analysed a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with colon cancer in England (2010-2013). We examined patterns of presentation and surgery by SES, and whether socioeconomic differences exist in the length of time from diagnosis to elective major resection using linear regression. RESULTS: Among a total of 68 169 patients with colon cancer, 21.0 % (3138/14 917) in the most affluent group had emergency presentation (EP) whereas 27.9 % (2901/10 386) in the most deprived. Among 45 332 (66.5 %) patients who underwent resection, the proportion of patients receiving urgent surgery (surgery before or ≤ 7 days of diagnosis) was higher in the most deprived group (39.9 %, 2685/6733) than the most affluent (35.4 %, 3595/10 146). Days from diagnosis to elective surgery (surgery > 7 days after diagnosis) ranged from 33.9 (95 % CI 33.1-34.8) in stage II to 38.2 (95 % CI 36.8-39.7) in stage I, but no socioeconomic differences in time were seen in all stages. CONCLUSIONS: Time to elective surgery for colon cancer did not differ by SES, whereas a higher proportion among deprived patients tended to be diagnosed through EP and to receive urgent surgery. These results suggest that the waiting time target may not be an appropriate measure to assess access to cancer care. Reducing both EP and urgent surgery should be a key policy target.
Authors: Mari Kajiwara Saito; Manuela Quaresma; Helen Fowler; Sara Benitez Majano; Bernard Rachet Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2021-05-28 Impact factor: 3.710