Jeong Sung Hoon, Chun Seong Min, Lee Hyunji, Kim Miji, Leigh Ja-Ho
Department of Health Policy and Management, Inje University, 50834, Gimhae, Republic of Korea.
National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Research Institute, National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, 12564, Yangpyeong, Republic of Korea.
BMC Womens Health. 2025 May 22;25(1):247. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03780-6.
The diagnosis-to-first-treatment interval (DFTI) is an important prognostic factor and a major concern for patients with breast cancer as well as their clinicians. It may be particularly important for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between DFTI and risk of mortality in patients with new-onset early-stage breast cancer.
This nationwide, retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Korean National Health Insurance database and the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (2006-2017). By using 1:5 propensity score matching, 3,625 participants with a DFTI < 60 days and 725 with a DFTI ≥ 60 days were included in the analysis. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine the association between the DFTI and 5-year all-cause mortality risk.
Compared with patients with breast cancer with a DFTI < 60 days, patients with a DFTI ≥ 60 days had a higher 5-year mortality risk (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.09 [1.43-3.06]). Similarly, sensitivity analysis with a 45-day threshold revealed higher mortality in patients with a DFTI ≥ 45 days (HR [95% CI], 1.49 [1.14-1.96]) than their counterparts with a DFTI < 45 days. This association was greater for patients with low household income, those who lived in rural areas, and those with a high Charlson comorbidity index.
A DFTI ≥ 60 days was associated with mortality risk in patients with early-stage breast cancer. These results emphasize the importance of closely monitoring the waiting times of this patients population and ensuring timely treatment.
诊断至首次治疗间隔时间（DFTI）是一个重要的预后因素，也是乳腺癌患者及其临床医生主要关注的问题。对于早期乳腺癌患者而言，它可能尤为重要。本研究旨在探讨新发早期乳腺癌患者的DFTI与死亡风险之间的关联。
这项全国性的回顾性队列研究利用了韩国国民健康保险数据库和韩国国家癌症发病率数据库（2006 - 2017年）中的数据。通过1:5倾向评分匹配，分析纳入了3625名DFTI＜60天的参与者和725名DFTI≥60天的参与者。采用Cox比例风险回归模型来检验DFTI与5年全因死亡风险之间的关联。
与DFTI＜60天的乳腺癌患者相比，DFTI≥60天的患者5年死亡风险更高（风险比[95%置信区间]，2.09[1.43 - 3.06]）。同样，以45天为阈值的敏感性分析显示，DFTI≥45天的患者死亡率高于DFTI＜45天的患者（HR[95%CI]，1.49[1.14 - 1.96]）。这种关联在家庭收入低、居住在农村地区以及Charlson合并症指数高的患者中更为明显。
DFTI≥60天与早期乳腺癌患者的死亡风险相关。这些结果强调了密切监测该患者群体等待时间并确保及时治疗的重要性。
