Characteristics and general practice resource use of people with comorbid cancer and dementia in England: a retrospective cross-sectional study.



Collinson, Michelle ORCID: 0000-0003-3568-6455, Mason, Ellen, Kelley, Rachael, Griffiths, Alys ORCID: 0000-0001-9388-9168, Ashley, Laura, Henry, Ann, Inman, Hayley, Cowdell, Fiona, Hennell, June, Jones, Liz
et al (show 4 more authors) (2022) Characteristics and general practice resource use of people with comorbid cancer and dementia in England: a retrospective cross-sectional study. BMC primary care, 23 (1). 281-.

[img] Text
CanDem WP1 Summary Paper BMC Primary Care v3_CLEAN.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript

Download (128kB)

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Cancer and dementia are common in older people and management of the conditions as comorbidities can be challenging, yet little is known about the size or characteristics of this group. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, characteristics and general practice resource usage of people living with both conditions in England.<h4>Methods</h4>Anonymised electronic healthcare records from 391 National Health Service general practices across England using the TPP SystmOne general practice system were obtained from ResearchOne. Data included demographic and clinical characteristics, and general practice healthcare useage (appointments, prescriptions, referrals and secondary care contacts) for people aged 50 and over with a cancer and/or dementia diagnosis consistent with the Quality and Outcomes Framework between 2005 and 2016. Multi-level negative binomial regression was used to analyse the association between having cancer and/or dementia and the number of general practice appointments.<h4>Results</h4>Data from 162,371 people with cancer and/or dementia were analysed; 3616 (2.2%) people were identified as having comorbid cancer and dementia. Of people with cancer, 3.1% also had dementia, rising to 7.5% (1 in 13 people) in those aged 75 and over. Fewer people with both conditions were female (50.7%) compared to those with dementia alone (65.6%) and those with comorbid cancer and dementia were older than those with cancer alone [mean ages 83 (sd = 7), 69 (sd = 12) respectively]. Those with both conditions were less likely to have lung cancer than those with cancer alone (7.5% vs. 10.3%) but more likely to have prostate cancer (20.9% vs. 15.8%). Additional comorbidities were more prevalent for those with both conditions than those with cancer or dementia alone (68.4% vs. 50.2% vs. 54.0%). In the year following the first record of either condition, people with cancer and dementia had 9% more general practice appointments (IRR:1.09, 95% CI:1.01-1.17) than those with cancer alone and 37% more appointments than those with dementia alone (IRR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.28-1.47).<h4>Conclusions</h4>A significant number of people are living with comorbid cancer and dementia in England. This group have additional comorbidity and higher general practice usage than those with cancer/dementia alone. The needs of this group should be considered in future general practice care planning and research.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans, Neoplasms, Dementia, Retrospective Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Comorbidity, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, State Medicine, England, Female, Male, General Practice
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 01 Nov 2022 16:23
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 19:48
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01882-w
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165934