1. Factors Associated with Head and Neck Cancer Postoperative Radiotherapy Delays: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
- Author
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Duckett KA, Kassir MF, Nguyen SA, Brennan EA, Chera BS, Sterba KR, Halbert CH, Hill EG, McCay J, Puram SV, Jackson RS, Sandulache VC, Kahmke R, Osazuwa-Peters N, Ramadan S, Nussenbaum B, Alberg AJ, and Graboyes EM
- Subjects
- Humans, Postoperative Care methods, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant, Time-to-Treatment, United States, Head and Neck Neoplasms surgery, Head and Neck Neoplasms radiotherapy, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck radiotherapy, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck surgery
- Abstract
Objective: Initiating postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) within 6 weeks of surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clincal Practice Guidelines and is a Commission on Cancer quality metric. Factors associated with delays in starting PORT have not been systematically described nor synthesized., Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL., Review Methods: We included studies describing demographic characteristics, clinical factors, or social determinants of health associated with PORT delay (>6 weeks) in patients with HNSCC treated in the United States after 2003. Meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) was performed on nonoverlapping datasets., Results: Of 716 unique abstracts reviewed, 21 studies were included in the systematic review and 15 in the meta-analysis. Study sample size ranged from 19 to 60,776 patients. In the meta-analysis, factors associated with PORT delay included black race (OR, 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-1.67), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.17-1.60), Medicaid or no health insurance (OR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.90-2.13), lower income (OR, 1.38, 95% CI, 1.20-1.59), postoperative admission >7 days (OR, 2.92, 95% CI, 2.31-3.67), and 30-day hospital readmission (OR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.29-1.47)., Conclusion: Patients at greatest risk for a delay in initiating guideline-adherent PORT include those who are from minoritized communities, of lower socioeconomic status, and experience postoperative challenges. These findings provide the foundational evidence needed to deliver targeted interventions to enhance equity and quality in HNSCC care delivery., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)
- Published
- 2024
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