The Actionable Gaps of the Journey of Patients with Lung Cancer
Author(s)
Chorostowska-Wynimko J1, Barila R2, Jaal J3, Kirova-Nedyalkova G4, Krejci J5, Ostoros G6, Petrova M7, Pluzanski A8, Pop O9, Skrickova J10, Spaks A11, Stanculeanu DL12, Lupu R13, Teodorescu G14, Ryska A15
1National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NITLD), Warsaw, Poland, 2Stefan Kukura Hospital, Michalovce, Slovakia, 3Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia, 4Tokuda Hospital, Sofia, 23, Bulgaria, 5Bulovka University, Prague, Czech Republic, 6National Koranyi Insitute of Pulmology, Budapest, Hungary, 7Nadezhda Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria, 8Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center, Warsaw, Poland, 9Resident Laboratory, Oradea, Romania, 10Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic, 11Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia, 12Oncological Institute, Bucharest, Romania, 13AstraZeneca Romania, Bucharest, Romania, 14AstraZeneca Romania, Bucuresti, B, Romania, 15Charles University Medical Faculty Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Despite recent therapeutic advances, the prognosis of lung cancer remains poor, being impacted by a delayed diagnosis at the later-stage of the disease.
The OPTIMISE project aimed to assess the journey of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment initiation in Central and Eastern Europe and Baltic (CEE-BA) region to identify the major hurdles and potential for improvement.METHODS: OPTIMISE was a retrospective chart review conducted by healthcare professionals from 11 medical centres in 7 countries, between September and December 2021. Data collected included time of symptom onset, first abnormal scan, NSCLC diagnosis and treatment initiation.
RESULTS: Most centres were National Oncology Centers and University Clinics. In total, 124 cases were recorded. Majority of patients (90%) were diagnosed with stage III and IV.
The first NSCLC-related visit was with a pulmonologist (49% patients) or with a general practitioner (25%). At that time, only one-third of patients (34%) presented symptoms potentially related to lung cancer. The median time (interquartile range, IQR) from the first abnormal tomography scan result to the first lung cancer assessment was 5.5 (IQR 24) days. The median time (IQR) from the first visit to NSCLC diagnosis was 36 (47) days, from histopathology confirmation to biomarker test results 8 (12) days, and from diagnosis to treatment initiation 30 (29) days. However, cases with up to 400 days from symptoms onset or the first visit to treatment initiation and more than 100 days from diagnosis to treatment initiation were recorded. Delays in referral and availability of testing results at diagnosis were also registered.CONCLUSIONS: Shortened timelines from referral to diagnosis and treatment initiation are key to improve survival in NSCLC. In depth analyses of real-world data bring relevant insights to inform clinicians and payers, contributing to the stage shift in lung cancer.
Conference/Value in Health Info
Value in Health, Volume 25, Issue 12S (December 2022)
Code
HSD57
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
SDC: Oncology