Does delay in diagnosing colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients affect tumor stage and survival? A population-based observational study

Table 4 Specification of healthcare delay in early versus late stage colorectal cancer (CRC) in 272 symptomatic patients diagnosed with CRC in a population-based study.

Early vs Late stage CRC		healthcare delay (weeks)*	referral delay (weeks) †	hospital diagnostic delay (weeks) §	staging/treatment delay (weeks) ‡
Early stage CRC	Mean	17.1	6.7	6.1	4.9
(Dukes A&B, N = 136)	Median	12	1	3	4
	SD	15.7	13.9	7.5	3.2
	SE	1.3	1.2	0.6	0.3
Late stage CRC	Mean	19	11	5.2	3.6
(Dukes C&D, N = 136)	Median	10	2	2	3
	SD	21.4	20.8	8.2	2.6
	SE	1.8	1.8	0.7	0.2
Total	Mean	18	8.8	5.7	4.2
(N = 272)	Median	12	1	3	4
	SD	18.8	17.8	7.9	2.9
	SE	1.1	1.1	0.5	0.2

* No significant difference was observed in the mean healthcare delay in early versus late stage CRC
(p = 0.46; tested on a logarithmic scale using the independent-samples t-test).
† Mean referral delay was significantly longer in late stage CRC compared to early stage CRC
(p = 0.04; tested on a logarithmic scale using the independent-samples t-test).
§ No significant difference was observed in the mean hospital diagnostic delay in early versus late stage CRC
(p = 0.09; tested on a logarithmic scale using the independent-samples t-test).
‡ Mean staging/treatment delay was significantly shorter in late stage CRC compared to early stage CRC
(p < 0.0001; tested on a logarithmic scale using the independent-samples t-test).

ISSN: 1471-2407