Rates of surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy use in patients with stage IB to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer: A provincial population-based study.
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134 Background: The current standard of treatment for early-stage (IB to IIIA) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to identify rates of adherence to guideline recommended surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for early-stage NSCLC for patients living in Ontario, the most populous province of Canada. Methods: A retrospective population-based study using linked administrative data through ICES was completed that included all adult patients with a diagnosis of stage IB to IIIA NSCLC made from 2010 to 2020 in Ontario. Rates of surgery and chemotherapy completion were calculated using available OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) billing codes. Logistic multivariate regressions were completed to assess for any predictors for completion of surgery and chemotherapy. Results: A total of 24,237 eligible patients were included. By cancer staging, there were 6,495 (26.8%) stage IB, 7,156 (29.5%) stage II, and 10,586 (43.7%) stage IIIA NSCLC patients. Within 180 days of diagnosis, surgery was completed for 9,929 (41.0%) of patients, by cancer staging were 4090/6495 (63.0%), 3719/7156 (52.0%), and 2120/10586 (20.0%) for IB, II, and IIIA respectively. The median time from diagnosis to surgery was 49 days (IQR 23-77 days). Amongst patients who completed surgery, 3344/9929 (33.7%) underwent at least 1 cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy within 180 days. Having advanced age (p<0.001), high Charlson comorbidity score (p<0.001), and low income (p<0.001) are predictors for poor uptake for both chemotherapy and surgery. Being male also reduces the likelihood of undergoing surgery (p<0.001). Conclusions: In our population-based study, less than half of the patients with early-stage (IB-IIIA) NSCLC underwent surgical resection and chemotherapy. These low treatment rates are concerning and may be contributing to suboptimal outcomes. Our findings indicate that elderly individuals with multiple comorbidities and those with low incomes are at the highest risk of not receiving appropriate chemotherapy and surgery. Our data highlight the need for quality improvement strategies aimed at identifying and enhancing treatment uptake within this patient population.
