Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study

Abstract Background About half of the patients diagnosed with colon cancer are 70 years or older. Standard treatment for stage III colon cancer is major surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Norwegian guidelines recommend initiation of ACT within 6 weeks after resection. Object...

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Main Authors: Elin Marthinussen Gustavsen, Stig Norderval, Liv Marit Dørum, Aina Balto, Ragnhild Heimdal, Barthold Vonen, Eva Stensland, Ellinor Haukland, Beate Hauglann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-12-01
Series:Research in Health Services & Regions
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43999-024-00057-7
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author Elin Marthinussen Gustavsen
Stig Norderval
Liv Marit Dørum
Aina Balto
Ragnhild Heimdal
Barthold Vonen
Eva Stensland
Ellinor Haukland
Beate Hauglann
author_facet Elin Marthinussen Gustavsen
Stig Norderval
Liv Marit Dørum
Aina Balto
Ragnhild Heimdal
Barthold Vonen
Eva Stensland
Ellinor Haukland
Beate Hauglann
author_sort Elin Marthinussen Gustavsen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background About half of the patients diagnosed with colon cancer are 70 years or older. Standard treatment for stage III colon cancer is major surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Norwegian guidelines recommend initiation of ACT within 6 weeks after resection. Objective This study investigated socioeconomic and geographic variation in the recommended provision of ACT to elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway. Methods This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients aged 70 years or older diagnosed with stage III colon cancer between 2011 and 2021 who underwent major surgical resection. Individual data were obtained from national registries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to model variation in provision of ACT. Results Of 4 501 included patients, 603 (13%) and 1 182 (26%) received ACT within 6 and 8 weeks after resection, respectively. The provision of ACT decreased with increasing age and frailty. Odds of ACT within 6 weeks decreased for patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) compared to high SES (odds ratio (OR) 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.91)), and decreased for patients living alone compared to those living with a cohabitant (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.58–0.91)). Geographic variation was found between hospital referral areas (OR 0.41–2.58). Conclusions Our study found that ACT provision to elderly stage III colon cancer patients is associated with SES and geography, indicating variation in guidelines adherence. Further research is needed to explore the impact of ACT timing among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway.
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spelling doaj-art-1dd9851d7c564ca4a86916742f960f3c2024-12-22T12:15:58ZengSpringerResearch in Health Services & Regions2730-98272024-12-013111210.1007/s43999-024-00057-7Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort studyElin Marthinussen Gustavsen0Stig Norderval1Liv Marit Dørum2Aina Balto3Ragnhild Heimdal4Barthold Vonen5Eva Stensland6Ellinor Haukland7Beate Hauglann8Department of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, University Hospital of Northern NorwayCancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthCancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthGeriatric Department, Akershus University HospitalNorthern Norway Regional Health AuthorityDepartment of Community Medicine, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT)Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland HospitalCentre for Clinical Documentation and Evaluation (SKDE), Northern Norway Regional Health AuthorityAbstract Background About half of the patients diagnosed with colon cancer are 70 years or older. Standard treatment for stage III colon cancer is major surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Norwegian guidelines recommend initiation of ACT within 6 weeks after resection. Objective This study investigated socioeconomic and geographic variation in the recommended provision of ACT to elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway. Methods This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients aged 70 years or older diagnosed with stage III colon cancer between 2011 and 2021 who underwent major surgical resection. Individual data were obtained from national registries. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to model variation in provision of ACT. Results Of 4 501 included patients, 603 (13%) and 1 182 (26%) received ACT within 6 and 8 weeks after resection, respectively. The provision of ACT decreased with increasing age and frailty. Odds of ACT within 6 weeks decreased for patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) compared to high SES (odds ratio (OR) 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.91)), and decreased for patients living alone compared to those living with a cohabitant (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.58–0.91)). Geographic variation was found between hospital referral areas (OR 0.41–2.58). Conclusions Our study found that ACT provision to elderly stage III colon cancer patients is associated with SES and geography, indicating variation in guidelines adherence. Further research is needed to explore the impact of ACT timing among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43999-024-00057-7Socioeconomic variationGeographic variationColon cancerAdjuvant chemotherapyElderlyHealth care utilisation
spellingShingle Elin Marthinussen Gustavsen
Stig Norderval
Liv Marit Dørum
Aina Balto
Ragnhild Heimdal
Barthold Vonen
Eva Stensland
Ellinor Haukland
Beate Hauglann
Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
Research in Health Services & Regions
Socioeconomic variation
Geographic variation
Colon cancer
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Elderly
Health care utilisation
title Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
title_full Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
title_fullStr Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
title_short Socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage III colon cancer in Norway – a national register-based cohort study
title_sort socioeconomic and geographic variation in adjuvant chemotherapy among elderly patients with stage iii colon cancer in norway a national register based cohort study
topic Socioeconomic variation
Geographic variation
Colon cancer
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Elderly
Health care utilisation
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43999-024-00057-7
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