Treatment decisions and survival for people with small-cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chemotherapy improves survival for many patients with SCLC, and hence it is important to understand variations in practice and outcomes for this treatment strategy.

Methods

We used the National Lung Cancer Audit and Hospital Episodes Statistics to determine the proportion of patients who received chemotherapy for SCLC, and assess the effects of patient and organisational factors on the odds of receiving chemotherapy and of completing four cycles. We calculated median survival and used Cox regression to determine factors that predicted survival.

Results

Of 15 091 cases of SCLC, 70% received at least one cycle of chemotherapy. More deprived people were less likely to receive chemotherapy, but patients were more likely to receive chemotherapy, and to complete

SUBMITTER: Powell HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3929890 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature