Head and neck cancer in the UK: what was the stage before COVID-19? UK cancer registries analysis (2011-2018)

Creaney, G. , McMahon, A. D. , Ross, A. J. , Bhatti, L. A., Paterson, C. and Conway, D. I. (2022) Head and neck cancer in the UK: what was the stage before COVID-19? UK cancer registries analysis (2011-2018). British Dental Journal, 233(9), pp. 787-793. (doi: 10.1038/s41415-022-5151-4) (PMID:36369569) (PMCID:PMC9650177)

Abstract

Introduction: People who present with more advanced stage head and neck cancer (HNC) are associated with poorer outcomes and survival. The burden and trends of advanced stage HNC are not fully known at the population level. The UK national cancer registries routinely collect data on HNC diagnoses. Aims: To describe trends in stage of diagnosis of HNCs across the UK before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Aggregated HNC incidence data were requested from the national cancer registries of the four UK countries for the ten most recent years of available data by subsite and American Joint Commission on Cancer stage at diagnosis classification. Additionally, data for Scotland were available by age group, sex and area-based socioeconomic deprivation category. Results: Across the UK, rates of advanced stage HNC had increased, with 59% of patients having advanced disease at diagnosis from 2016-2018. England had a lower proportion of advanced disease (58%) than Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (65-69%) where stage data were available. The completeness of stage data had improved over recent years (87% by 2018). Conclusion: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnoses of HNC at an advanced stage comprised the majority of HNCs in the UK, representing the major challenge for the cancer healthcare system.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Creaney, Mr Grant and Paterson, Dr Claire and Ross, Dr Alastair and McMahon, Dr Alex and Conway, Professor David
• Authors: Creaney, G., McMahon, A. D., Ross, A. J., Bhatti, L. A., Paterson, C., and Conway, D. I.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Research Group: Community Oral Health
• Journal Name: British Dental Journal
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 0007-0610
• ISSN (Online): 1476-5373
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in British Dental Journal 233(9): 787-793
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303648		HEADSPACE	David Conway	European Commission (EC)	825771	Med - Dental School