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The following is a summary of “Frequency and Natural History of Emergency General Surgery Conditions in Cancer Patients: A SEER-Medicare Population Analysis,” published in the October 2024 issue of Surgery by Jolissaint et al.
The incidence and natural history of emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions in patients with cancer have not been well characterized, leading to potential disparities in care and outcomes.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to determine variability in the incidence or management of EGS conditions between patients with cancer and non-cancer.
They utilized SEER-Medicare data (January 2006 to December 2015) to compare patients with breast (N=82,147), lung (N=128,618), and prostate cancer (N=111,991) to a cohort of non-cancer (N=210,429). Patients were followed from the date of cancer diagnosis or an index date for patients having no cancer to the development of an EGS condition, death, or last follow-up.
The results showed that patients with cancer had a higher incidence of an EGS condition within the first year after diagnosis (4.8% vs. 3.2%), with lung (6.8%) and breast cancer (4.0%) showing consistent trends. Patients were less likely to undergo surgery (13% vs. 14%, P=0.005), varied by cancer type and EGS conditions. Patients with breast (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17-1.39) and lung cancer (HR 3.27, 95% CI 3.07-3.48) were more likely to die within 30 days of an EGS diagnosis.
They concluded that patients with cancer experienced a higher incidence of EGS conditions within the first year following diagnosis but were less likely to undergo surgery.
