Impact of Waiting Times on Mortality in Advanced Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Thailand
Issued Date
2023-10-01
Resource Type
eISSN
2476762X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85175274804
Pubmed ID
37898846
Journal Title
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
Volume
24
Issue
10
Start Page
3419
End Page
3428
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol.24 No.10 (2023) , 3419-3428
Suggested Citation
Vichapat V., Chantasartrassamee P., Reungwetwattana T. Impact of Waiting Times on Mortality in Advanced Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Thailand. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol.24 No.10 (2023) , 3419-3428. 3428. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.10.3419 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/90956
Title
Impact of Waiting Times on Mortality in Advanced Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Study in Thailand
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between mortality and waiting times from diagnosis to first treatment while also considering other important risk factors associated with mortality. METHODS: This is a cohort study including 497 patients diagnosed with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2021. The risk factors and waiting periods were analysed to determine their association with mortality. The waiting periods were recorded based on the timeline of patient visits, including the time between the 1st visit and imaging, the time between the 1st visit and tissue diagnosis, the time between the procedure and tissue diagnosis, the time between tissue diagnosis and treatment and the time from the 1st visit until treatment. The data were assessed using Cox regression with time-varying covariates. RESULTS: Waiting time for tissue diagnosis had a modest effect on mortality, a waiting time of more than four weeks indicated poor prognosis both in univariate and multivariate analyses [HR 1.48 (95%CI 1.18-1.87), p = < 0.01), adjusted HR 1.007 (95%CI 1.002-1.010), p = 0.02]. Waiting time for other services was not shown to be associated with mortality. The mortality rate was 3 times higher in patients with poor ECOG performance status than good ECOG performance [adjusted HR 3.17(2.04-4.91)]. Patients with EGFR sensitizing mutation who were treated with EGFR TKI therapy had a lower risk of lung cancer death compared to those being treated with chemotherapy [adjusted HR 0.49 (0.33-0.72)]. CONCLUSION: Molecular testing for EGFR sensitizing mutation and the TKI treatment were fundamental changes that assisted in improving survival rates for patients diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer over the 10-year period. However, poor ECOG performance status remained a strong risk factor for lung cancer death. Longer waiting time for tissue diagnosis might indicate a poor prognosis.