The Trajectory of Ground Glass Nodule Patients in China: A Real-World Perspective
Author(s)
Lanjun Zhang, MD1, Rusi Zhang, MD1, Xuewen Zhang, MD1, Shun Xu, MD2, Lei Sun, MD2, Chang Chen, MD3, Yu-Hsiang (Sean) Kao, PhD4, Minkyung Shin, MA, MPhil4, Ben Forrest, BS, MBA, MSc4, Jing Jing, MPH5, Mei Yang, PhD6.
1Sun Yat-sen university cancer center, Guangzhou, China, 2The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China, 3Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China, 4Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA, 5Happy Life Technology, Beijing, China, 6Happy Life Technology, Short Hills, NJ, USA.
1Sun Yat-sen university cancer center, Guangzhou, China, 2The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China, 3Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China, 4Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA, 5Happy Life Technology, Beijing, China, 6Happy Life Technology, Short Hills, NJ, USA.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The evidence on the clinical pathways for patients with ground glass nodules (GGN) in China is limited. This study aims to examine the journey of Chinese patients diagnosed with GGN through real-world data.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted using electronic medical record (EMR) from two tertiary grade A hospitals from 1 January 2018 to 1 June 2023 in China. Natural language processing was utilized to analyze the textual data within EMRs and retrieve variables for this study. Adult patients (≥18 years) newly diagnosed with GGN in 2019 and with at least one more visit at the same hospital were included. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic methods. Patient journey roadmaps were also created by visualization method to enhance understanding.
RESULTS: A total of 741 patients were included with a mean age 58 years and 56% female. Most GGN patients had a combination diagnosis with multiple nodules (49.1%) or sarcoidosis (50.4%). During the initial visit, 82.2% of patients received imaging only, 4.5% underwent biopsies, 1.9% had lobectomy surgery, 0.9% received chemotherapy or radiation, and 10.5% received unrelated medical services. CT scans were the major imaging modality (84.7%), with an average of 20 days to the first treatment. Transbronchial lung biopsy was the most frequent biopsy procedure (81.8%), with a pneumothorax rate of 3.7%. Among the biopsy procedures conducted during the initial visit, 54.5% were benign, and 3% required a repeat biopsy in subsequent visits. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was the primary surgical approach (92.9%), and 57.1% of patients received follow-up imaging.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides real-world evidence that is crucial for addressing knowledge gaps in patient journey of GGN patients. By offering a comprehensive landscape, this research enhances understanding and informs decisions in both clinical practice and healthcare policy.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted using electronic medical record (EMR) from two tertiary grade A hospitals from 1 January 2018 to 1 June 2023 in China. Natural language processing was utilized to analyze the textual data within EMRs and retrieve variables for this study. Adult patients (≥18 years) newly diagnosed with GGN in 2019 and with at least one more visit at the same hospital were included. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and diagnostic methods. Patient journey roadmaps were also created by visualization method to enhance understanding.
RESULTS: A total of 741 patients were included with a mean age 58 years and 56% female. Most GGN patients had a combination diagnosis with multiple nodules (49.1%) or sarcoidosis (50.4%). During the initial visit, 82.2% of patients received imaging only, 4.5% underwent biopsies, 1.9% had lobectomy surgery, 0.9% received chemotherapy or radiation, and 10.5% received unrelated medical services. CT scans were the major imaging modality (84.7%), with an average of 20 days to the first treatment. Transbronchial lung biopsy was the most frequent biopsy procedure (81.8%), with a pneumothorax rate of 3.7%. Among the biopsy procedures conducted during the initial visit, 54.5% were benign, and 3% required a repeat biopsy in subsequent visits. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was the primary surgical approach (92.9%), and 57.1% of patients received follow-up imaging.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides real-world evidence that is crucial for addressing knowledge gaps in patient journey of GGN patients. By offering a comprehensive landscape, this research enhances understanding and informs decisions in both clinical practice and healthcare policy.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EPH192
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Oncology, SDC: Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory), STA: Surgery