Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Economic Crisis: A Factor for the Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.
Petrovici, Iasmina; Ionica, Mihaela; Neagoe, Octavian C.
  • Petrovici I; Department of Philosophy and Communication Sciences, Faculty of Political Sciences, Philosophy and Communication Sciences, West University of Timisoara, Vasile Parvan Boulevard No. 4, 300223 Timișoara, Romania.
  • Ionica M; Second Clinic of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Emergency Clinical Municipal Hospital Timișoara, Gheorghe Dima Street No. 5, 300079 Timișoara, Romania.
  • Neagoe OC; Department of Pathophysiology-Functional Sciences, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timișoara, Romania.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(8)2021 04 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1378354
ABSTRACT
Considering the constant increase in breast cancer patients, identifying factors that influence the moment of diagnosis is essential for optimizing therapeutic management and associated cost. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact of the economic crisis on the moment of a breast cancer diagnosis. This retrospective observational study analyzed a cohort of 4929 patients diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of 19 years in the Western region of Romania. The time interval was divided based on the onset of the economic crisis into 3 periods pre-crisis (2001-2006), crisis (2007-2012), and post-crisis (2013-2019). The disease stage at the moment of diagnosis was considered either early (stages 0, I, II) or advanced (stages III, IV). Although recording a similar mean number of patients diagnosed per year during the pre- and crisis periods, a significantly higher percentage of patients were diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer during the economic crisis period compared to the previous interval (46.9% vs. 56.3%, p < 0.01). This difference was further accentuated when accounting for environmental setting, with 65.2% of patients from a rural setting being diagnosed with advanced disease during the crisis interval. An overall improvement of 12% in early-stage breast cancer diagnosis was recorded in the post-crisis period (55.7%, p < 0.001). The findings of this study support periods of economic instability as potential factors for a delay in breast cancer diagnosis and highlight the need for the development of specific strategies aimed at reducing cancer healthcare and associated financial burden in times of economic crisis.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Breast Neoplasms Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph18083998

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Breast Neoplasms Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph18083998