Understanding the Patient Journey of Lung Cancer Patients in China: A Multi-Center Study

Speaker(s)

Zhang L1, Zhang R1, Zhang X1, Xu S2, Sun L2, Chen C3, Kao YH(4, Shin M4, Forrest B4, Jing J5, Yang M6
1Sun Yat-sen university cancer center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 2The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 3Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 4Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA, 5Happy Life Technology, Beijing, Beijing, China, 6Happy Life Technology, Short Hills, NJ, USA

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: Existing evidence within clinical pathways for lung cancer (LC) patients in China is rare. This study aims to deliver a comprehensive patient journey among Chinese patients with LC to understand gaps in diagnosis, unmet clinical needs, and the imperative for treatment.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted using electronic medical record (EMR) at three tertiary grade A (top-ranking) hospitals in China. This study included patients aged 18 years or older who were first diagnosed with suspected or confirmed LC in 2019, had no prior history of LC-related medical services or treatment, and had at least one follow-up visit related to LC within a year. Natural language processing was utilized to analyze the textual data within EMRs and retrieve variables relevant to this study.

RESULTS: A total of 8,836 patients were included, with 92% diagnosed with LC. The average age was 59.2 years, with 54.8% being male. During the initial visit, 25.5% of patients underwent imaging, 11.0% had biopsies, 33.8% underwent lobectomy surgery, 10.2% received chemo/radio/immune/targeted therapy, and 19.5% received non-related LC medical services. CT scans were the most common imaging modality (73.8%), and transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) was the predominant biopsy procedure (64.5%). The median time from the first biopsy to starting treatment was 7.5 days. Among patients who underwent surgery during their initial visit, video-assisted thoracic surgery emerged as the primary method (88.7%). Pathology results indicated malignant rates of 73.5% for biopsies and 89.1% for surgeries. The major complications associated with TTNA biopsies were pneumothorax (8.9%) and pneumonia (8.4%), whereas surgeries commonly led to pneumothorax (2.4%) and pneumonia (9.0%).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides real-world evidence that is crucial for addressing knowledge gaps. By offering a comprehensive view of the patient journey, this research enhances understanding and informs decisions in both clinical practice and healthcare policy.

Code

EPH122

Topic

Clinical Outcomes, Epidemiology & Public Health

Topic Subcategory

Clinical Outcomes Assessment, Public Health

Disease

Oncology, Surgery