Evaluation of delays during diagnosis and management of lung cancer in India: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Objective: The majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage; the reasons for which are variable and unclear.

Methods: Lung cancer patients were evaluated prospectively to quantify various timelines and establish reasons for delays. Timelines were defined as time intervals between symptom onset, first physician visit, first specialist visit, date of diagnosis and treatment.

Results: A total 410 patients were included, majority having advanced disease. The median period for a first visit to a physician was 30 days (interquartile range [IQR] 20-90), 50 days (IQR 20-110) for referral to our centre, 23 days (IQR 14-33) to reach diagnosis, and 24 days (IQR 14.5-34) to initiate treatment. Administration ofanti-tuberculosis treatment further delayed referral to specialist centre. Treatment delays were related to performance status, disease stage and treatment type. On multivariate analysis, education and histology affected diagnosis delay and treatment delay. Treatment delay was less in those who received targeted therapy compared to chemotherapy. Various time delays did not affect the overall survival.

Conclusion: Poor education status and inappropriate anti-tubercular treatment were primary factors associated with longer diagnostic delays. Creating disease awareness and high clinical suspicion are essential to overcome these lacunae in lung cancer care.

Keywords: India; lung cancer; time delays.