The impact of morbidity burden on cancer diagnosis; a retrospective cohort study in England

Expediting cancer diagnosis is a priority in many countries. The rising prevalence of chronic conditions may complicate the cancer diagnostic process. We investigated whether patients with pre-existing morbidity were more likely to experience disadvantage in cancer diagnostic outcomes and processes.

We used linked primary, secondary care, and cancer registration data for patients aged 40 + years diagnosed with incident cancer in England during 2012-2018. The Cambridge Multimorbidity Score quantified morbidity burden. Logistic regressions investigated whether morbidity burden was associated with stage at diagnosis, 30-day all-cause mortality, emergency presentation- or urgent suspected cancer referral route to diagnosis.

277,050 patients were included. Decreasing morbidity burden was associated with an increased likelihood of advanced-stage diagnosis (e.g. high burden vs. low burden aOR: 0.86, 95 % CI: 0.84-0.89, p < 0.0001). There were u-shaped relationships between morbidity burden, emergency diagnoses and 30-day mortality, with those with high or no recorded morbidity burden most likely to be diagnosed as an emergency and to die within 30 days after diagnosis. Diagnoses via urgent suspected cancer referrals decreased with increasing morbidity burden. Associations varied across cancer sites, though high morbidity burden was only associated with advanced stage for ovarian cancer.

Contrary to expectations, not having pre-existing morbidities was associated with an increased likelihood of advanced-stage diagnosis. This may reflect heightened surveillance of patients with morbidity being protective against later advanced-stage cancer diagnoses. These findings highlight the need for robust cancer surveillance processes and good comprehensive care that considers cancer alongside wider aspects of health.