BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the leading causes of morbidity in upper-middle income countries such as Colombia. Several studies have reported poor prognosis when treatment is delayed.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the associated factors to delays in time to treatment initiation (TTI) in Colombian women with CC.

METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis including new cases of CC diagnosed during 2018 and reported to the National Administrative Cancer Registry, managed by the High Cost Account (CAC, by its acronym in Spanish). TTI was defined as days from diagnosis (clinical or histopathological) to the first treatment (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery). Associated factors were identified by estimating a linear model adjusted by age, stage, region of residence, health insurance, race/ethnicity and first treatment.

RESULTS: 1,930 new cases of CC were included (27.72% in-situ and 38.08% advanced stages). Median age was 47 years (IQR: 37-59). Median TTI was 71 days (IQR: 42-105) and surgery was the most frequent treatment (31.30%, n=604). The longest TTI was observed for chemotherapy (median= 74 days, IQR: 38-113). TTI was significantly longer in women living in the Pacific region (β=10.64 days, CI 95%: 0.51-20.77, p=0.04), compared to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. Women with state insurance had a significantly longer TTI than those insured by the third payer (β=18.35 days, CI 95%: 11.40-25.30, p=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Demographic variables (region of residence and health insurance) which are proxies of social disparities and poor access to quality health care services, were associated with delays in TTI in Colombian women with CC.