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Comparing Survival of Oral Cancer Patients Before and After Launching of the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Creator | Waraporn Sungwalee |
| Title | Comparing Survival of Oral Cancer Patients Before and After Launching of the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand |
| Publisher | APJCP |
| Publication Year | 2559 |
| Journal Title | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention |
| Journal Vol. | 17 |
| Journal No. | 7 |
| Page no. | 3541-3544 |
| Keyword | Survival , oral cancer , universal coverage scheme , Thailand |
| Abstract | Background: As the treatment modalities for oral cancer have been relatively consistent during the last two- decades, this study was conducted to compare survivals of oral cancer patients in Khon Kaen Province before and after the universal coverage scheme (UC) was launched in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The data were retrieved from the population-based cancer registry of Khon Kaen for oral cancer patients diagnosed during 1992-2001 (pre-UC), and 2004-2012 (post-UC). To compare survival of the two cohorts, Kaplan Meier and log rank tests were employed. Results: Of 1,196 patients, 65% were females and the median age was 65 years. The most common primary sites were lip (31.0%), tongue (29.9%), and buccal mucosa (14.6%). The proportion of early stage cancer increased from 20.4 % in pre-UC to 41.3% in post-UC. The overall 5-year survival rate was 36.5% (95% CI =32.6-40.9) for pre-UC and 32.4% (95% CI = 28.8-36.4) for post-UC. The declining survival was mainly due to an increasing proportion of tongue cancer. However, no survival improvement was demonstrated on subgroup analysis of the tongue cancer patients. Conclusions: After the universal coverage scheme had been launched, early diagnosis increased, but no significant gain in survival for oral cancer patients was achieved. |