Cancer Risk from Symptoms in Primary Care
Author Information
Author(s): Matthew E Barclay, Cristina Renzi, Hannah Harrison, Ana Torralbo, Becky White, Samantha Hiu Yan Ip, Juliet Usher-Smith, Jane Lange, Nora Pashayan, Spiros Denaxas, Angela M Wood, Antonis Antoniou, Georgios Lyratzopoulos
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
What is the age, sex, and smoking-specific risk of cancer diagnosis and non-cancer mortality following primary care consultation for 15 new-onset symptoms?
Conclusion
Patients with new-onset symptoms in primary care often have comparable risks of cancer diagnosis and non-cancer mortality.
Supporting Evidence
- 1,622,419 patients were included in the study.
- 36,802 patients were diagnosed with cancer within 12 months.
- 28,867 patients died without a cancer diagnosis within 12 months.
- Certain symptoms like jaundice and dysphagia are linked to high non-cancer mortality risk in older patients.
- Symptoms such as unintended weight loss and fatigue are associated with increased cancer risk.
Takeaway
If you go to the doctor with certain symptoms, you might have a higher chance of having cancer or dying from something else, especially if you're older or smoke.
Methodology
Data from a UK primary care database was analyzed using time-to-event models to estimate cancer diagnosis and non-cancer mortality risks.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to incomplete symptom data and the inability to create a truly symptom-free control group.
Limitations
The study only considered 15 symptoms and did not account for all possible symptoms or health conditions that may be associated with cancer risk.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 30-99, with a mix of genders and smoking statuses.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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