HOSPITAL VOLUME DIFFERENCES AND 5-YEAR SURVIVAL FROM BREAST-CANCER

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of h ospital volume on long-term survival for women with breast cancer. Met hods. Survival analysis and proportional-hazard modeling were used to assess 5-year survival and risk of death, adjusting for clinical and s ociodemographic variables. Results. At 5 years, patients from very low -volume hospitals had a 60% greater risk of all-cause mortality than p atients from high-volume hospitals. Conclusions. Hospital volume of br east cancer surgical cases has a strong positive effect on 5-year surv ival. Research is needed to identify whether processes of cart, especi ally postsurgical adjuvant treatments. contribute to survival differen ces.