Sex-based differences in time to surgical care among pancreatic cancer patients: A national study of Medicare beneficiaries

Introduction The objective of this study was to characterize time from cancer symptoms to diagnosis and time from diagnosis to surgical treatment among patients undergoing pancreatectomy for cancer. Methods Medicare beneficiaries who underwent pancreatectomy for cancer between 2013 and 2017 were identified using the 100% Medicare Inpatient Standard Analytic Files. Mixed effects negative binomial regression models were utilized to determine which factors were associated with the number of weeks to diagnosis and pancreatic resection. Results Among 7647 Medicare beneficiaries, two-thirds (n = 5127, 67%) had symptoms associated with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis before surgery. Median time from the first symptom to diagnosis was 6 weeks (IQR: 1-25) and the median time from diagnosis to surgery was 4 weeks (IQR: 2-15). In risk-adjusted models, female patients had 13% longer waiting times from identification of a related symptom to pancreatic cancer diagnosis (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21) and 12% longer waiting times from diagnosis to surgery (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.07-1.18). Older age was associated with 10% longer waiting times from symptom identification to diagnosis (p < .0001). Conclusions Female and older patients had longer wait times between symptom presentation and pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Sex-based disparities in cancer care need to be recognized and addressed by policymakers and health care institutions.

Automated summary

This study found that female and older patients experienced longer wait times between cancer symptom presentation and pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Gender and age disparities in cancer care should be acknowledged and addressed by policymakers and healthcare institutions.