Time-to-treatment initiation for cutaneous melanoma reflects disparities in healthcare access in Brazil: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed at identifying the sociodemographic and first treatment characteristics affecting time-to-treatment initiation (TTI) of patients with cutaneous melanoma assisted by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study using cutaneous melanoma cases recorded in the Brazilian Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCR).

METHODS

A total of 12,783 cutaneous melanoma cases were included in the analysis. Based on the legislation, TTI in Brazil is 60 days; therefore, the cohort was dichotomized into TTI within 60 days and over. The association among variables was evaluated through the Chi-squared test. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank hypothesis test were used to determine the probability of initiating treatment within 60 days. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Median TTI was 28 days (95% CI, 25-29). First treatment in SUS provided more than 60 days after diagnosis (34.8%) was associated with females; low level of formal education; living or getting treatment in northern Brazil; being diagnosed in SUS and treated at different healthcare facilities, in addition to starting treatment with radiotherapy or systemic therapy. There were no significant differences in access to health care before and after the enactment of the 60-day law.

CONCLUSION

Increased TTI for cutaneous melanoma is associated with sociodemographic and first treatment characteristics in Brazil; approximately one-third of cases did not have access to first treatment within the period established by law. Receiving the diagnosis and treatment at different healthcare facilities (transitions in care) is the main independent factor associated with TTI longer than 60 days.