[Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of five types of cancer in two urban health centres].

Abstract

To assess the diagnostic (ID) and treatment (IT) intervals of the most prevalent cancers in patients attached to two health centres and to analyse the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and health system (HS) organisational factors. Observational, retrospective, analytical cohort study. SITE: Primary care. Two urban health centres. Three hundred sixty-five patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), breast, lung, prostate or bladder cancer between 1/1/2012 and 31/12/2017. The medians of ID and IT and the risk (OR) of ID and IT above those medians according to the above factors are compared. The contribution of each process step to ID is analysed. Median ID was 92 days, maximum in prostate cancer (395 days) and minimum in lung (54 days). Factors associated with prolonged ID (OR>92 days) were female sex, CRC or prostate location, localised stage, index primary care (AP) consultation and outpatient diagnostic pathway. Prolonged IT (OR>56 days) was related to CRC or prostate location and outpatient diagnostic route. ID components with the greatest influence on delay were: Primary Care Interval (IAP), Secondary Care Delay (DAS) and Secondary Care Adjunctive Test Delay (DPAS). The contribution of IAP was highest in patients with CRC, lung and bladder. ID and IT were 92 and 56 days respectively. The ID components with the highest contribution to delay were IAP, DAS and DPAS. Increasing diagnostic capacity in PC and organising specific diagnostic and treatment pathways would shorten these intervals and allow earlier detection.