[Suspected diagnosis of cancer in hospital emergency services]. / Diagnóstico de sospecha del cáncer en los servicios de urgencia hospitalarios.

BACKGROUND: To measure the frequency, trends and distribution of cancers with suspected diagnosis in the Hospital Emergency Services (HES) in Asturias during 2006-12. To describe the clinical characteristics of these cancers and to determine if they differ from those whose diagnosis is made in other services. METHODS: Population based descriptive study of cancers registered in the Hospital Tumour Registry of Asturias (Spain), which provided data of patient characteristics, cancer variables (site, histology, stage, metastasis and delay), the hospital and service of diagnosis. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of cancer (non-melanoma of skin excluded) in the study period were included (N=26,020). Differences of cancer cases according to the service that had performed the suspected diagnosis were analyzed. We performed regression analysis of the time between the first symptom and the suspected diagnosis, the definitive diagnosis and treatment, controlling main confounders. RESULTS: Seven point nine percent (n=2,056) of all cancer cases were suspected in a HES (annual minimum of 5.3% and maximum 10.4%, with an upward trend). These patients were mainly men (60.6%), with a mean age of 67.7 years, and with lung (21.0%) and colon cancer (15.5%). The HES ranks 6th place in the list of services which diagnosed cancer. There was more diagnosis of advanced tumours (33.0%) and metastasis (29.5%) in the HES. The HES halved the time between the first symptom and the SD (-63.3 days; p<0.001), and between definitive diagnosis and initiation of treatment (-15.9 days; p<0.001) compared to the other services. CONCLUSIONS: The HES contribute significantly to suspected cancer diagnosis, mainly advanced and metastatic tumours in the respiratory and digestive system, whose symptoms escape accidental diagnosis conducted in primary care, and they start abruptly.

Diagnóstico de sospecha del cáncer en los servicios de urgencia hospitalarios / Suspected diagnosis of cancer in hospital emergency services

Fundamento: Medir la frecuencia, tendencia y distribución de los cánceres con diagnóstico de sospecha en los Servicios de Urgencia Hospitalarios (SUH) de Asturias durante 2006-12. Caracterizar clínicamente dichos cánceres y determinar si se diferencian de aquellos cuyo diagnóstico es realizado en otros servicios. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo poblacional de los cánceres del Registro Hospitalario de Tumores de Asturias (España), que recoge características del paciente, del tumor (localización, histología, estadio, metástasis y demora), el hospital y el servicio que diagnostica. Se seleccionaron los pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de cáncer (excepto piel no melanoma) en el periodo de estudio (N=26.020). Se buscaron diferencias entre los casos según el servicio que había realizado la sospecha diagnóstica. Se ejecutó un análisis de regresión del tiempo transcurrido entre el primer síntoma y el diagnóstico de sospecha, el diagnóstico definitivo y el tratamiento, controlando los principales confusores. Resultados: El 7,9% (n=2.056) de todos los cánceres se sospechó en un SUH (mínimo anual 5,3 y máximo 10,4, con tendencia creciente). Estos pacientes fueron principalmente varones (60,6%), con edad media de 67,7 años, y cáncer en pulmón (21,0%) y colon (15,5%). Los SUH ocuparon el 6º puesto en el ranking de servicios que diagnosticaron tumores. En los SUH hubo más diagnóstico de sospecha de tumores avanzados (33,0%) y más metástasis (29,5%). Los SUH redujeron a la mitad los tiempos entre el primer síntoma y DS (-64,3 días), y entre diagnóstico definitivo y el inicio del tratamiento (-15,9 días) con respecto al resto de servicios. Conclusiones: Los SUH contribuyen de forma importante al diagnóstico de sospecha del cáncer, principalmente avanzado y metastásico, en sistema respiratorio y digestivo, cuyos síntomas escapan al diagnóstico accidental realizado en atención primaria, y debutan abruptamente (AU)

Background: To measure the frequency, trends and distribution of cancers with suspected diagnosis in the Hospital Emergency Services (HES) in Asturias during 2006-12. To describe the clinical characteristics of these cancers and to determine if they differ from those whose diagnosis is made in other services. Methods: Population based descriptive study of cancers registered in the Hospital Tumour Registry of Asturias (Spain), which provided data of patient characteristics, cancer variables (site, histology, stage, metastasis and delay), the hospital and service of diagnosis. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of cancer (non-melanoma of skin excluded) in the study period were included (N=26,020). Differences of cancer cases according to the service that had performed the suspected diagnosis were analyzed. We performed regression analysis of the time between the first symptom and the suspected diagnosis, the definitive diagnosis and treatment, controlling main confounders. Results: Seven point nine percent (n=2,056) of all cancer cases were suspected in a HES (annual minimum of 5.3% and maximum 10.4%, with an upward trend). These patients were mainly men (60.6%), with a mean age of 67.7 years, and with lung (21.0%) and colon cancer (15.5%). The HES ranks 6th place in the list of services which diagnosed cancer. There was more diagnosis of advanced tumours (33.0%) and metastasis (29.5%) in the HES. The HES halved the time between the first symptom and the SD (-64.3 days; p<0.001), and between definitive diagnosis and initiation of treatment (-15.9 days; p<0.001) compared to the other services. Conclusions: The HES contribute significantly to suspected cancer diagnosis, mainly advanced and metastatic tumours in the respiratory and digestive system, whose symptoms escape accidental diagnosis conducted in primary care, and they start abruptly (AU)