Using Linked Lung Cancer Registry and Hospital Data for Guiding Health Service Improvement

Abstract

Objective: To use linked NSW Cancer Registry and hospital lung cancer (LC) data for raising discussion points on how to improve outcomes.

Design: Historical cohort – cases diagnosed in 2003-2007.

Setting: New South Wales, Australia

Outcome Measures: Relative odds (OR) of localised disease and resection of non-small cases (NSCLC) using multiple logistic regression. Comparisons of risk of NSCLC death using competing risk regression.

Findings: (1) Older patients have fewer resections of localised NSCLC [adjusted OR 95% CLs; 80+Vs <60 years; 0.20 (0.14, 0.28)]. Cases with co-morbidity have fewer resections [adjusted OR, 0.74 (0.61, 0.90)] and have more conservative resections. Question: Is there the best balance between resection and avoiding surgery to accommodate frailty and co-morbidity? (2) Compared with public patients, the health insured: have higher odds of localised LC [adjusted OR, 1.23 (1.12, 1.35] and resection for localised NSCLC [adjusted OR, 2.08 (1.70, 2.54)]; are more likely to have lobectomies than wedge/segmental resections (p<0.001); and have a lower risk of LC death [adjusted SHR, 0.89 (0.85, 0.93)]. Question: Are there opportunities for improving publicpatient outcomes? (3) Patients born in non-English speaking countries have lower odds of localised disease [adjusted OR, 0.88 (0.79, 0.99)]. – Question: Could this difference be decreased by reducing cultural and language barriers? (4) Cancers of pulmonary lobes rather than the main bronchus pose lower risks of LC death. Question: Could outcomes for main bronchus cancers be improved by up-skilling or referral to higher-volume centres? (5) Greater extent of disease is strongly predictive of case fatality – Question: Could LC deaths be reduced by earlier treatment? (6) Use of lobectomies varies – Question: Could survival be increased through greater use of lobectomies for localised NSCLC?

Conclusions: Linked cancer registry and hospital data can increase system-wide understanding of local health-service delivery and prompt discussion points on how to improve outcomes.

Abbreviations: APDC – Australian Patient Data Collection; CHeReL – Centre for Health Record Linkage; EOD – Extent of Disease; LC – Lung Cancer; NSCLC – Non-Small Cell Cancers; NSWCR – New South Wales Cancer Registry; OR – Relative Odds; SEIFA – Socio-Economic Index for Areas; SES – Socio- Economic Status.