Smoking data quality of primary care practices in comparison with smoking data from the New Zealand Maori and Pacific abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Quality smoking data is crucial for assessing smoking-related health risk and eligibility for interventions related to that risk. Smoking information collected in primary care practices (PCPs) is a major data source; however, little is known about the PCP smoking data quality. This project compared PCP smoking data to that collected in the Maori and Pacific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme. METHODS: A two stage review was conducted. In Stage 1, data quality was assessed by comparing the PCP smoking data recorded close to AAA screening episodes with the data collected from participants at the AAA screening session. Inter-rater reliability was analysed using Cohen's kappa scores. In Stage 2, an audit of longitudinal smoking status was conducted, of a subset of participants potentially misclassified in Stage 1. Data were compared in three groups: current smoker (smoke at least monthly), ex-smoker (stopped > 1 month ago) and never smoker (smoked < 100 cigarettes in lifetime). RESULTS: Of the 1841 people who underwent AAA screening, 1716 (93%) had PCP smoking information. Stage 1 PCP smoking data showed 82% concordance with the AAA data (adjusted kappa 0.76). Fewer current or ex-smokers were recorded in PCP data. In the Stage 2 analysis of discordant and missing data (N = 313), 212 were enrolled in the 29 participating PCPs, and of these 13% were deceased and 41% had changed PCP. Of the 93 participants still enrolled in the participating PCPs, smoking status had been updated for 43%. Data on quantity, duration, or quit date of smoking were largely missing in PCP records. The AAA data of ex-smokers who were classified as never smokers in the Stage 2 PCP data (N = 27) showed a median smoking cessation duration of 32 years (range 0-50 years), with 85% (N = 23) having quit more than 15 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: PCP smoking data quality compared with the AAA data is consistent with international findings. PCP data captured fewer current and ex-smokers, suggesting ongoing improvement is important. Intervention programmes based on smoking status should consider complementary mechanisms to ensure eligible individuals are not missed from programme invitation.

Comparison of Cancer Mortality and Incidence Between New Zealand and Australia and Reflection on Differences in Cancer Care: An Ecological Cross-Sectional Study of 2014-2018.

BACKGROUND: Despite many background similarities, New Zealand showed excess cancer deaths compared to Australia in previous studies. This study extends this comparison using the most recent data of 2014-2018. METHODS: This study used publicly available cancer mortality and incidence data of New Zealand Ministry of Health and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and resident population data of Statistics New Zealand. Australian cancer mortality and incidence rates were applied to New Zealand population, by site of cancer, year, age and sex, to estimate the expected numbers, which were compared with the New Zealand observed numbers. RESULTS: For total cancers in 2014-2018, New Zealand had 780 excess deaths in women (17.1% of the annual total 4549; 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.8-18.4%), and 281 excess deaths in men (5.5% of the annual total 5105; 95% CI 4.3-6.7%) compared to Australia. The excess was contributed by many major cancers including colorectal, melanoma, and stomach cancer in both sexes; lung, uterine, and breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men. New Zealand's total cancer incidences were lower than those expected from Australia's in both women and men: average annual difference of 419 cases (-3.6% of the annual total 11 505; 95% CI -4.5 to -2.8%), and 1485 (-11.7% of the annual total 12 669; 95% CI -12.5 to -10.9%), respectively. Comparing time periods, the excesses in total cancer deaths in women were 15.1% in 2000-07, and 17.5% in 1996-1997; and in men 4.7% in 2000-2007 and 5.6% in 1996-1997. The differences by time period were non-significant. CONCLUSION: Excess mortality from all cancers combined and several common cancers in New Zealand, compared to Australia, persisted in 2014-2018, being similar to excesses in 2000-2007 and 1996-1997. It cannot be explained by differences in incidence, but may be attributable to various aspects of health systems governance and performance.

Development and validation of a predictive model for estimating EGFR mutation probabilities in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Targeted treatment with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is superior to systemic chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR gene mutations. Detection of EGFR mutations is a challenge in many patients due to the lack of suitable tumour specimens for molecular testing or for other reasons. EGFR mutations are more common in female, Asian and never smoking NSCLC patients. METHODS: Patients were from a population-based retrospective cohort of 3556 patients diagnosed with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in northern New Zealand between 1 Feb 2010 and 31 July 2017. A total of 1694 patients were tested for EGFR mutations, of which information on 1665 patients was available for model development and validation. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed based on 1176 tested patients, and validated in 489 tested patients. Among 1862 patients not tested for EGFR mutations, 129 patients were treated with EGFR-TKIs. Their EGFR mutation probabilities were calculated using the model, and their duration of benefit and overall survival from the start of EGFR-TKI were compared among the three predicted probability groups: < 0.2, 0.2-0.6, and > 0.6. RESULTS: The model has three predictors: sex, ethnicity and smoking status, and is presented as a nomogram to calculate EGFR mutation probabilities. The model performed well in the validation group (AUC = 0.75). The probability cut-point of 0.2 corresponds 68% sensitivity and 78% specificity. The model predictions were related to outcome in a group of TKI-treated patients with no biopsy testing available (n = 129); in subgroups with predicted probabilities of < 0.2, 0.2-0.6, and > 0.6, median overall survival times from starting EGFR-TKI were 4.0, 5.5 and 18.3 months (p = 0.02); and median times remaining on EGFR-TKI treatment were 2.0, 4.2, and 14.0 months, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our model may assist clinical decision making for patients in whom tissue-based mutation testing is difficult or as a supplement to mutation testing.

Erlotinib or Gefitinib for Treating Advanced Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation-Positive Lung Cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: Protocol for a National Whole-of-Patient-Population Retrospective Cohort Study and Results of a Validation Substudy.

BACKGROUND: Starting in 2010, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors erlotinib and gefitinib were introduced into routine use in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) for treating advanced lung cancer, but their impact in this setting is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The study described in this protocol aims to understand the effectiveness and safety of these new personalized lung cancer treatments and the contributions made by concomitant medicines and other factors to adverse outcomes in the general NZ patient population. A substudy aimed to validate national electronic health databases as the data source and the methods for determining patient eligibility and identifying outcomes and variables. METHODS: This study will include all NZ patients with advanced EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer who were first dispensed erlotinib or gefitinib before October 1, 2020, and followed until death or for at least 1 year. Routinely collected health administrative and clinical data will be collated from national electronic cancer registration, hospital discharge, mortality registration, and pharmaceutical dispensing databases by deterministic data linkage using National Health Index numbers. The primary effectiveness and safety outcomes will be time to treatment discontinuation and serious adverse events, respectively. The primary variable will be high-risk concomitant medicines use with erlotinib or gefitinib. For the validation substudy (n=100), data from clinical records were compared to those from national electronic health databases and analyzed by agreement analysis for categorical data and by paired 2-tailed t tests for numerical data. RESULTS: In the validation substudy, national electronic health databases and clinical records agreed in determining patient eligibility and for identifying serious adverse events, high-risk concomitant medicines use, and other categorical data with overall agreement and κ statistic of >90% and >0.8000, respectively; for example, for the determination of patient eligibility, the comparison of proxy and standard eligibility criteria applied to national electronic health databases and clinical records, respectively, showed overall agreement and κ statistic of 96% and 0.8936, respectively. Dates for estimating time to treatment discontinuation and other numerical variables and outcomes showed small differences, mostly with nonsignificant P values and 95% CIs overlapping with zero difference; for example, for the dates of the first dispensing of erlotinib or gefitinib, national electronic health databases and clinical records differed on average by approximately 4 days with a nonsignificant P value of .33 and 95% CIs overlapping with zero difference. As of May 2024, the main study is ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: A protocol is presented for a national whole-of-patient-population retrospective cohort study designed to describe the safety and effectiveness of erlotinib and gefitinib during their first decade of routine use in NZ for treating EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer. The validation substudy demonstrated the feasibility and validity of using national electronic health databases and the methods for determining patient eligibility and identifying the study outcomes and variables proposed in the study protocol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000998549; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368928. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/51381.

Cancer of the nasopharynx in Aotearoa New Zealand from 1994 to 2018: Incidence and survival in a population-based, national registry cohort study.

Background: Cancer of the nasopharynx has remarkable geographic and ethnic variation in incidence and outcomes globally. Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies provide new opportunities for early detection and improved outcomes. This study aimed to determine the incidence, demographics, outcomes and time trends of cancer of the nasopharynx in Aotearoa New Zealand over the last 25 years. Methods: In a population-based, national registry cohort study of notifications of malignant neoplasms of the nasopharynx made to the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 1994 and 2018, age-specific and age-standardised incidence rates and survival outcomes were evaluated. Findings: 577 registrations of nasopharyngeal cancer from between 1994 and 2018 were analysed; median age at diagnosis 54 years; 72.4% male; 37.4% Asian, 24.3% New Zealand European, 25.3% Pacific peoples, 13.0% Maori. Age-standardised annual incidence remained low (<1/100,000 person-years) and stable from 1994 to 2018. Age-standardised incidence rates in Pacific peoples, Asian and Maori were 21 (95% CI 12.07-35.21)-, 17 (10.95-25.33)- and 4 (2.79-7.07)-fold higher, respectively, than New Zealand Europeans. Epstein-Barr virus-related morphologies predominated keratinising squamous cell carcinoma and not-otherwise-specified morphological subtypes. Ten-year overall survival rate for the cohort was 49.2% (95% CI 44.7-53.5). Older age at diagnosis (65-94 years), Maori or Pacific ethnicity, keratinising squamous cell carcinoma and distant disease were associated with shorter overall survival, whereas younger age at diagnosis (10-29 years), and Asian ethnicity were associated with longer survival. Interpretation: Aotearoa New Zealand has a distinct profile of nasopharyngeal cancer, with age, ethnicity and morphology among the main determinants of incidence and survival. Funding: None.

Trends in brain cancers (glioma) in New Zealand from 1995 to 2020, with reference to mobile phone use.

BACKGROUND: Some case-control studies have suggested substantial increased risks of glioma in association with mobile phone use; these risks would lead to an increase in incidence over time. METHODS: Incidence rates of glioma from 1995 to 2020 by age, sex, and site in New Zealand (NZ) recorded by the national cancer registry were assessed and trends analysed. Phone use was based on surveys. RESULTS: In these 25 years there were 6677 incident gliomas, giving age-standardised rates (WHO world standard) of 6.04 in males, and 3.95 in females per 100,000. The use of mobile phones increased rapidly from 1990 to more than 50% of the population from about 2000, and almost all the population from 2006. The incidence of glioma from ages 10-69 has shown a small decrease over the last 25 years, during which time the use of mobile phones has become almost universal. Rates in the brain locations receiving most radiofrequency energy have also shown a small decrease. Rates at ages of 80 and over have increased. CONCLUSION: There is no indication of any increase related to the use of mobile phones. These results are similar to results in Australia and in many other countries. The increase in recorded incidence at ages over 80 is similar to that seen in other countries and consistent with improved diagnostic methods.

Population-based incidence rates and increased risk of EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer in Maori and Pacifica in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation benefit from targeted treatments. Previous studies reported EGFR mutation-positive proportions among tested non-squamous NSCLC patients. However, incidence rates and population risk of EGFR mutation-positive and EGFR mutation-negative non-squamous NSCLC have not been assessed. This study therefore aimed to estimate the population-based incidence rates of EGFR mutation-positive and EGFR mutation-negative non-squamous NSCLC in different population groups defined by sex, ethnic group and smoking status. METHODS: This study included data from all non-squamous NSCLC patients diagnosed in northern New Zealand between 1/02/2010 and 31/07/2017 (N = 3815), obtained from a population-based cancer registry. Age-specific incidence rates, WHO age-standardised rates (ASRs) and rates adjusted for incomplete testing were calculated for EGFR mutation-positive and EGFR mutation-negative diseases for the study cohort as a whole and subgroups of patients. RESULTS: Among 3815 patients, 45% were tested for EGFR mutations; 22.5% of those tested were EGFR mutation-positive. The ASR of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC was 5.05 (95%CI 4.71-5.39) per 100,000 person-years. ASRs for EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC were higher for females than males: standardised incidence ratio (SIR) 1.50 (1.31-1.73); higher for Pacifica, Asians and Maori compared with New Zealand Europeans: SIRs 3.47 (2.48-4.85), 3.35 (2.62-4.28), and 2.02 (1.43-2.87), respectively; and, only slightly increased in ever-smokers compared with never-smokers: SIR 1.25 (1.02-1.53). In contrast, the ASR of EGFR mutation-negative NSCLC was 17.39 (16.75-18.02) per 100,000 person-years, showing a strong association with smoking; was higher for men; highest for Maori, followed by Pacifica and then New Zealand Europeans, and lowest for Asians. When corrected for incomplete testing, SIRs by sex, ethnicity and smoking, for both diseases, remained similar to those based on tested patients. CONCLUSION: The population risk of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC was significantly higher for Maori and Pacifica compared with New Zealand Europeans.

Serial tests of T-cell function predict long-term survival in an elderly cohort from a Scottish general practice.

INTRODUCTION The care of the elderly presents serious challenges to general practice. In 1979, the first author took over the care of a general practice in Scotland where 21% of registered patients were elderly. This resulted in a high workload and prompted research into how this might be mitigated. AIM To measure serial tests of T-cell function in these individuals in order to identify those whose immune response was impaired and assess the effect of this in a long term follow up. METHODS This research comprised two phases. In the assessment phase (1979-82), patients were invited to have a 3-monthly visit from a research nurse where clinical measurements were made and blood taken for immunological tests of lymphocyte proliferation after culture with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). For each patient, all records were surveyed and problems identified. In the follow-up phase (post 1982), all deaths were assessed with complete life-long follow up. RESULTS Of 405 people originally invited to participate in this research, 314 (78%) agreed and 246 (153 female, 93 male) entered the follow-up phase and were followed for 36.5 years. Factors significantly associated with lower survival were age, male sex, diastolic blood pressure, current smoking and poor immune function, as demonstrated by the percentage of negative responses in at least six PHA tests. Considered in four groups by percentage of failing tests, the lowest group had a life span 4 years shorter than the highest (P<0.01). The four groups did not differ significantly in general practitioner workload, diagnosed problems or causes of death. DISCUSSION Poor cellular immune function was associated with poor survival over lifetime follow up of >30 years. A sensitive, specific and longitudinally consistent measure of T-cell function is required to predict who may be at risk of poorer survival within our practices.

Factors associated with overall survival in a population-based cohort of non- squamous NSCLC patients from northern New Zealand: A comparative analysis by EGFR mutation status.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations on overall survival in patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study assesses the effect of EGFR mutation on overall survival, and how the effects of other survival predictors differ by EGFR mutation status. METHODS: The study used a population- based cohort of 1534 non-squamous NSCLC patients diagnosed in northern New Zealand between 1st February 2010 and 31st July 2017. Cox regression survival analyses were used to explore the associations between clinicopathological factors and overall survival by EGFR mutation status. The factors included were age at diagnosis, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, performance status, metastasis status and tumour site. RESULTS: In this cohort, 20% had anEGFR mutation. The median overall survival times were 0.8 years and 2.79 years in EGFR-mutation-negative and -positive groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Metastasis at diagnosis showed large effects on overall survival in both EGFR-mutation- negative (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.6) and mutation-positive (HR = 3.3) groups. In subgroup analyses by mutation status and metastasis, females had lower survival only if they were mutation-positive; Maori had lower survival (than European New Zealanders) only if the disease was metastatic, and tumour site had significant effects only in patients without metastasis. Age, performance status and smoking status showed consistent effects in all subgroups. CONCLUSION: EGFR mutation status and metastasis are the main predictors for overall survival in non-squamous NSCLC patients. The effects of sex, ethnicity and tumour site vary depending on EGFR mutation and metastasis status.

Use of Non-Cancer Medications in New Zealand Women at the Diagnosis of Primary Invasive Breast Cancer: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Effects on Survival.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the use of multiple medications in cancer patients is crucial as such use may affect cancer outcomes. This study reports the prevalence of non-cancer medication use at breast cancer diagnosis, its associated factors, and its effect on survival. METHODS: We identified all women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2016, from four population-based breast cancer registries, in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, and Christchurch, New Zealand. Through linkage to the pharmaceutical records, we obtained information on non-cancer medications that were dispensed for a minimum of 90 days' supply between one year before cancer diagnosis and first cancer treatment. We performed ordered logistic regressions to identify associated factors and Cox regressions to investigate its effect on patient survival. RESULTS: Of 14,485 patients, 52% were dispensed at least one drug (mean-1.3 drugs; maximum-13 drugs), with a higher prevalence observed in patients who were older, treated at a public facility, more economically deprived, and screen-detected. The use of 2-3 drugs showed a reduced non-breast cancer mortality (HR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.60-0.92) in previously hospitalised patients, with other groups showing non-significant associations when adjusted for confounding factors. Drug use was not associated with changes in breast cancer-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Non-cancer medication use at breast cancer diagnosis was common in New Zealand, more prevalent in older and disadvantaged women, and showed no effect on breast cancer-specific mortality, but a reduction in other cause mortality with the use of 2-3 drugs.

High incidence of medulloblastoma in Maori and Pacific populations in New Zealand.

In New Zealand from 1995-2010, the incidence of medulloblastoma at ages 1-19 years was significantly higher in Maori (relative risk 2.0) and in Pacific peoples (RR 2.1) than in New Zealand Europeans.

Increasing Disadvantages in Cancer Survival in New Zealand Compared to Australia, between 2000-05 and 2006-10.

New Zealand has lower cancer survival compared to its neighbour Australia. If this were due to long established differences between the two patient populations, it might be expected to be either constant in time, or decreasing, as improving health services deals with inequities. In this study we compared trends in relative cancer survival ratios in New Zealand and Australia between 2000-05 and 2006-10, using data from the New Zealand Cancer Registry and the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. Over this period, Australia showed significant improvements (6.0% in men, 3.0% in women) in overall 5-year cancer survival, with substantial increases in survival from major cancer sites such as lung, bowel, prostate, and breast cancers. New Zealand had only a 1.8% increase in cancer survival in men and 1.3% in women, with non-significant changes in survival from lung and bowel cancers, although there were increases in survival from prostate and breast cancers. For all cancers combined, and for lung and bowel cancer, the improvements in survival and the greater improvements in Australia were mainly in 1-year survival, suggesting factors related to diagnosis and presentation. For breast cancer, the improvements were similar in each country and seen in survival after the first year. The findings underscore the need to accelerate the efforts to improve early diagnosis and optimum treatment for New Zealand cancer patients to catch up with the progress in Australia.

Endorsement of the CONSORT guidelines, trial registration, and the quality of reporting randomised controlled trials in leading nursing journals: A cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reporting quality of trials published in leading nursing journals and investigate associations between CONSORT Statement or trial registration endorsment and reporting of design elements. METHODS: The top 15 nursing journals were searched using Medline for randomised controlled trials published in 2012. Journals were categorised as CONSORT and trial registration promoting based on requirements of submitting authors or the journal's webpage as at January 2014. Data on sequence generation, allocation concealment, follow up, blinding, baseline equivalence and sample size calculation were extracted by one author and independently verified by the second author against source data. RESULTS: Seven journals were CONSORT promoting and three of these journals were also trial registration promoting. 114 citations were identified and 83 were randomised controlled trials. Eighteen trials (21.7%) were registered and those published in trial registration promoting journals were more likely to be registered (RR 2.64 95%CI 1.14-6.09). We assessed 68.7% of trials to be low risk of bias for sequence generation, 20.5% for allocation concealment, 38.6% for blinding, 55.4% for completeness of follow up and 79.5% for baseline equivalence. Trials published in CONSORT promoting journals were more likely to be at low risk of bias for blinding (RR 2.33, 95%CI 1.01-5.34) and completeness of follow up (RR 1.77, 95%CI 1.02-3.10), but journal endorsement of the CONSORT Statement or trial registration otherwise had no significant effect. Trials published in CONSORT and trial registration promoting journals were more likely to have high quality sample size calculations (RR 2.91, 95%CI 1.18-7.19 and RR 1.69, 95%CI 1.08-2.64, respectively). CONCLUSION: Simple endorsement of the CONSORT Statement and trials registration is insufficient action to encourage improvement of the quality of trial reporting across the most important of trial design elements.