OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this retrospective, population-based, observational cohort analysis was to evaluate whether patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurement within 120 days of diagnosis impacted overall survival (OS) and healthcare resource utilization among real-world patients with lung, breast, or colorectal cancer.

METHODS: Using linked registry-administrative databases covering 17 cancer centers from Alberta, Canada, patients ≥18 years old with a diagnosis of lung, breast, or colorectal cancer between 1/1/2016 and 12/31/2019 were identified and followed until 12/31/2020. Patients were divided into PRO vs. non-PRO cohorts based on whether they reported at least one cancer symptom within 120 days of diagnosis and were further matched 1:1 using propensity scores. Risks of OS were assessed using Cox models. Risks of hospitalizations and the standardized mean differences (SMDs) in number of office visits were estimated using logistic regressions and linear regressions, respectively.

RESULTS: 4800 patients were included in each matched cohort, with the majority (80%) of them having early-stage cancer. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between PRO and non-PRO cohorts (HR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.93-1.09, P=0.836). Compared to those in the non-PRO cohort, patients in the PRO cohort had higher risks of hospitalization (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.22, P=0.01) but significantly fewer physician visits (SMD=-1.036, 95% CI: -1.288 - -0.784, P<0.001). Similar results were found in a subgroup of patients with metastatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Capturing patient-reported symptoms alone reduced the number of physician visits, but neither reduced hospitalizations nor improved OS in this real-world cancer population.To drive more meaningful clinical impact, PRO monitoring programs must be connected closely to care in response to identified symptoms.