Assessing ethnic inequalities in diagnostic intervals of breast cancer among patients presenting symptoms to general practitioners in England.

ABSTRACT: This retrospective-cohort study examined ethnic differences in breast cancer diagnostic intervals among women aged aged ≥40 years who were diagnosed in England between 2017 and 2021. We analysed primary care-linked hospital data, with diagnostic interval divided into primary care interval (period between first presentation and referral), referral interval (period between referral and first specialist appointment), and secondary care interval (period between first specialist appointment and diagnosis). Across the cohort, the median diagnostic interval was 24 days and was longer for women presenting with non-lump symptoms than for those with a breast lump (ATR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.31-1.86). Black patients had longer diagnostic interval than White patients regardless of symptom type: [ATR = 1.38,

SUBMITTER: Martins T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12909917 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature