Variations in Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates: Investigating Equity and Prognostic Factors Throughout Nova Scotia

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Ovarian cancer survival rates exhibit significant geographic and demographic variability.
• Nova Scotia has the lowest 3-year net survival for advanced ovarian cancer in Canada (31.9%).
• Understanding factors influencing survival and potential inequities is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors affecting ovarian cancer survival in Nova Scotia.
• To investigate inequities in survival from diagnosis onwards.
• To determine if regional disparities impact ovarian cancer outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Population-based retrospective study of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (2007-2016).
• Linked administrative health data for individual, tumor, and health system characteristics.
• Descriptive and time-to-event analyses to assess prognostic and equity factors.

Main Results:

• No significant regional differences in ovarian cancer survival were found within Nova Scotia.
• Equity factors at the time of diagnosis did not significantly correlate with survival outcomes.
• Survival variations were primarily attributed to prognostic factors: cancer stage, subtype, comorbidities, and frailty.

Conclusions:

• Ovarian cancer survival inequities do not appear to directly impact outcomes at diagnosis in Nova Scotia.
• Socioeconomic status inequities may contribute to poorer prognostic factors upstream, indirectly affecting survival.
• Further research is needed to capture non-administrative equity data and compare international survival rates.