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 have been the subject of little research. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of selected variables as predictors of professional diagnostic delays in a sample of UADT cancer patients. Patients diagnosed 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) were included in the study. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for professional delay > 1 month versus professional delay < 1 month for selected study variables. The sample comprised 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 an oral cavity site (OR 0.31; 95%Cl 0.15-0.64) were the explanatory variables for professional delay. This study suggests that, among UADT cancer patients, the presence of comorbidity at the time of presentation increases the odds for a professional delay > 1 month, while older age, higher education and oral cancer reduce the odds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.