Effect of time interval from diagnosis to treatment for non-small cell lung cancer on survival: a national cohort study in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to determine if treatment delay after non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis impacts patient survival rate.

Study design

This study is a natural experiment in Taiwan. A retrospective cohort investigation was conducted from 2004 to 2010, which included 42 962 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC.

Methods

We identified 42 962 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC in the Taiwan Cancer Registry from 2004 to 2010. We calculated the time interval between diagnosis and treatment initiation. All patients were followed from the index date to death or the end of 2012. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the relationship between mortality and time interval.

Results

We included 42 962 patients (15 799 men and 27 163 women) wit

SUBMITTER: Tsai CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7204926 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature