PREDICTORS OF PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSTIC DELAYS FOR UPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT CARCINOMA

In spite of the belief that cancer mortality can be reduced if lesions are detected, diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the predictors of diagnostic delays for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancers hav e been the subject of little research. The aim of this study was to in vestigate the role of selected variables as predictors of professional diagnostic delays in a sample of UADT cancer patients. Patients diagn osed with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity sites (ICD-9 141, 143 -5) oro-, naso-and hypopharynx (ICD-9 146-8) and larynx (ICD-9 161) we re included in the study. Multiple logistic regression was used to cal culate the odds ratio (OR) for professional delay > 1 month versus pro fessional delay < 1 month for selected study variables. The sample com prised 188 subjects. Multivariate analysis found that the presence of comorbidity at the time of presentation of UADT symptoms (OR 2.84; 95% Cl 1.35-5.98), age greater than or equal to 65 years (OR 0.31; 95%Cl 0 .15-0.64), higher education (OR 0.45; 95%Cl 0.22-0.93) and cancer at a n oral cavity site (OR 0.31; 95%Cl 0.15-0.64) were the explanatory var iables for professional delay. This study suggests that, among UADT ca ncer patients, the presence of comorbidity at the time of presentation increases the odds for a professional delay > 1 month, while older ag e, higher education and oral cancer reduce the odds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.