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. 2009 Aug;52(4):E79–E86.

Table 3.

Characteristics of patients who underwent surgery for colon cancer in the United Sates from Jan. 1, 1993, to Dec. 31, 1996, by first diagnostic test-to-admission waiting time intervals

Characteristic Wait time; no. (%)* p value
1–14 d 15–28 d 29–42 d ≥ 43 d
Patients 3162 (43.1) 2237 (30.5) 916 (12.5) 1017 (13.9) 0.67
Age, yr 0.12
 65–73 1248 (45.1) 832 (30.1) 317 (11.5) 369 (13.3)
 74–80 1085 (42.5) 772 (30.2) 335 (13.1) 364 (14.2)
 ≥ 81 829 (41.2) 633 (31.5) 264 (13.1) 284 (14.2)
Sex 0.90
 Female 1760 (43.2) 1252 (30.7) 499 (12.3) 564 (13.8)
 Male 1402 (43.1) 985 (30.1) 417 (12.8) 453 (13.9)
Race < 0.001
 White 2817 (43.8) 1966 (30.6) 790 (12.3) 858 (13.3)
 Black 113 (28.7) 117 (29.7) 63 (16.0) 101 (25.6)
 Other 191 (45.3) 131 (31.0) 52 (12.3) 48 (11.4)
Median household income < 0.001
 Low 692 (48.8) 388 (27.4) 155 (10.9) 183 (12.9)
 Low–medium 774 (43.0) 590 (32.8) 199 (11.1) 236 (13.1)
 Medium–high 771 (41.2) 587 (31.3) 253 (13.5) 262 (14.0)
 High 827 (40.8) 615 (30.4) 274 (13.5) 309 (15.3)
Comorbidity score < 0.001
 Score ≥ 1 1051 (39.9) 820 (31.2) 339 (12.9) 422 (16.0)
 Score = 0 2111 (44.9) 1417 (30.2) 577 (12.3) 595 (12.7)
Tumour stage < 0.001
 Localized 1091 (36.0) 967 (31.9) 431 (14.2) 544 (17.9)
 Regional 1515 (47.4) 981 (30.7) 352 (11.0) 350 (10.9)
 Distant 529 (52.7) 266 (26.4) 120 (12.0) 89 (8.9)
Hospital volume§ < 0.001
 Low 877 (49.7) 510 (28.9) 185 (10.5) 192 (10.9)
 Low–medium 749 (42.5) 533 (30.3) 223 (12.7) 256 (14.5)
 Medium–high 774 (42.1) 568 (30.9) 246 (13.4) 249 (13.6)
 High 762 (38.7) 626 (31.8) 262 (13.3) 320 (16.2)
In-hospital mortality, % 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.4 0.75
*

Unless otherwise indicated.

We defined median household income as low (≤ $29 726), low–medium ($29 727–$38 478), medium–high ($38 479–$48 015) or high (≥ $48 016).

We defined tumour stages as follows: localized = confined to bowel wall, regional = local lymph nodes involved, distant = spread to other organs.

§

Hospital procedure volume was based on major colon resections for the period of Jan. 1, 1993, to Dec. 31, 1996: low (≤ 34), low–medium (35–62), medium–high (63–97) and high (≥ 98).