Characterizing Urban-Rural Differences in Colon Cancer Outcomes: A Population-based Analysis Based on Travel Distance to Cancer Center

Objective: We aimed to explore possible drivers for urban-rural disparities in colon cancer outcomes in a single-payer health care system where all patients had access to universal health care coverage. Methods: Patients diagnosed with stage II/III colon cancer between 2004 and 2015 in Alberta, Canada were reviewed. On the basis of postal code, patients were categorized as living in urban, rural, or suburban areas based on travel distance to the cancer center. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression models assessed the associations among the area of residence, receipt of treatment, and overall survival (OS). Results: Of 6163 patients identified, there were 3691, 1779, and 693 from urban, rural, and suburban areas, respectively. There was a larger proportion of younger patients (P=0.033) and left-sided colon cancers (P=0.042) in urban areas. Urban patients experienced shorter times from diagnosis to surgery (P
Source: American Journal of Clinical Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: American Journal of Clinical Oncology Source Type: research