Treatment and outcomes for indigenous and non-indigenous lung cancer patients in the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Intern Med J
; 51(7): 1081-1091, 2021 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32609424
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and the death rate of lung cancer in Indigenous Australians is increasing.AIMS:
To provide a comprehensive description of patterns of lung cancer presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the Top End of the Northern Territory.METHODS:
Retrospective cohort study of adult patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer in the Top End between January 2010 and December 2014. Unadjusted survival probabilities by indigenous status were calculated. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality.RESULTS:
Despite receiving similar diagnostic procedures and treatment, Indigenous Australians with lung cancer have poorer 1- and 5-year survival (25.0% and 9.4% respectively), when compared to non-Indigenous Australians included in the study (42.0% and 16.2% respectively). Indigenous lung cancer patients were more likely to be female (51.6% of indigenous patients were female, compared to 30.5% non-indigenous), be current smokers (61.3% vs 36.9%), have more comorbidities (73.6% vs 52.7%, 24.2% vs 5.3% and 30.8% vs 14.2% for respiratory disease, renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus respectively), and live in more socio-economically disadvantaged (66.7% vs 14.2%) and very remote areas (66.1% vs 6.8%). They were also more likely to die at home, compared to their non-indigenous counterparts (64.3% vs 26.7%).CONCLUSIONS:
Indigenous patients from the Top End diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to have poorer survival outcomes when compared to non-indigenous people. Potential reasons for the discrepancy in survival need to be addressed urgently.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
/
Lung Neoplasms
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Intern Med J
Journal subject:
MEDICINA INTERNA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: