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Disparities in diagnosis of advanced melanoma: a population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:International studies have observed inequities in stage at diagnosis of melanoma. As this has not been sufficiently studied in Canada, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are disparities in the diagnosis of advanced-thickness melanoma in the province of Ontario. METHODS:In this retrospective population-based cohort study, we obtained, abstracted and linked pathology reports for a 65% random sample of all cases of invasive cutaneous melanoma in Ontario from 2007 to 2012 in the Ontario Cancer Registry. Cases without pathology reports or with unreported thickness were excluded from the primary analysis. Associations between advanced melanoma (thickness > 2.0 mm) and patient, health-system and tumour factors were described and analyzed using multivariable modified Poisson regression. RESULTS:In total, 8042 patients had histologically confirmed melanoma and thickness information. Of these, 46.7% (n = 3755) were female, the median age at diagnosis was 62 years and 25.7% (n = 2069) had advanced melanoma. In multivariate analyses, advanced age (relative risk [RR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-1.72), male sex (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.20), lowest socioeconomic status quintile (RR 1.24; 95% CI 1.12-1.38) and health region (RR range 0.92-1.34, p = 0.005 for variable) were significantly associated with advanced melanoma. Presence of ulceration significantly modified many of these associations. INTERPRETATION:Disparate rates of advanced melanoma according to patient and health system factors suggest there may be inequitable access to timely diagnosis of melanoma in Ontario. This highlights a potential opportunity for system improvement to ensure timely and equitable access to melanoma care.

SUBMITTER: Mavor ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6208113 | biostudies-other | 2018 Oct-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Disparities in diagnosis of advanced melanoma: a population-based cohort study.

Mavor Meaghan E ME Richardson Harriet H Miao Qun Q Asai Yuka Y Hanna Timothy P TP

CMAJ open 20181031 4

<h4>Background</h4>International studies have observed inequities in stage at diagnosis of melanoma. As this has not been sufficiently studied in Canada, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are disparities in the diagnosis of advanced-thickness melanoma in the province of Ontario.<h4>Methods</h4>In this retrospective population-based cohort study, we obtained, abstracted and linked pathology reports for a 65% random sample of all cases of invasive cutaneous melanoma in Ont ...[more]

PMID: 30381323

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Project description:Background:Interval colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 3% to 8% of all cases of CRC in the United States. Data on interval CRC by race/ethnicity are scant. Objective:To examine whether risk for interval CRC among Medicare patients differs by race/ethnicity and whether this potential variation is accounted for by differences in the quality of colonoscopy, as measured by physicians' polyp detection rate (PDR). Design:Population-based cohort study. Setting:Medicare program. Participants:Patients aged 66 to 75 years who received colonoscopy between 2002 and 2011 and were followed through 2013. Measurements:Kaplan-Meier curves and adjusted Cox models were used to estimate cumulative probabilities and hazard ratios (HRs) of interval CRC, defined as a CRC diagnosis 6 to 59 months after colonoscopy. Results:There were 2735 cases of interval CRC identified over 235 146 person-years of follow-up. A higher proportion of black persons (52.8%) than white persons (46.2%) received colonoscopy from physicians with a lower PDR. This rate was significantly associated with interval CRC risk. The probability of interval CRC by the end of follow-up was 7.1% in black persons and 5.8% in white persons. Compared with white persons, black persons had significantly higher risk for interval CRC (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.13 to 1.51]); the disparity was more pronounced for cancer of the rectum (HR, 1.70 [CI, 1.25 to 2.31]) and distal colon (HR, 1.45 [CI, 1.00 to 2.11]) than for cancer of the proximal colon (HR, 1.17 [CI, 0.96 to 1.42]). Adjustment for PDR did not alter HRs by race/ethnicity, but differences between black persons and white persons were greater among physicians with higher PDRs. Limitation:Colonoscopy and polypectomy were identified by using billing codes. Conclusion:Among elderly Medicare enrollees, the risk for interval CRC was higher in black persons than in white persons; the difference was more pronounced for cancer of the distal colon and rectum and for physicians with higher PDRs. Primary Funding Source:American Cancer Society.

Dataset Information

Disparities in diagnosis of advanced melanoma: a population-based cohort study.

Publications

Disparities in diagnosis of advanced melanoma: a population-based cohort study.

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