TABLE 6.
Median wait times for each indication
| Indication |
Time, days
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | To consultation | To procedure | Total wait | Same-day consultation & procedure | |
| 1: Severe or rapidly progressing dysphagia or odynophagia | 2012 | 48 (26–62) (n=23) | 18 (7–88) (n=10) | 49 (19–157) (n=10) | 17 (12–21) (n=15) |
| 2008 | 34 (25–81) (n=25) | 19 (1–67) (n=12) | 83 (35–208) (n=12) | 27 (15–60) (n=19) | |
| 2: Stable dysphagia that is not severe | 2012 | 66 (46–92) (n=47) | 29 (13–47) (n=20) | 97 (45–184) (n=20) | 30*(18–68) (n=8) |
| 2008 | 90 (64–113) (n=45) | 43 (32–62) (n=23) | 135 (93–189) (n=23) | 68 (57–112) (n=20) | |
| 3: Chronic GERD referred for screening endoscopy | 2012 | 111 (92–173) (n=36) | 86 (23–192) (n=14) | 210 (120–328) (n=14) | 136 (n=1) |
| 2008 | 103 (51–163) (n=44) | 35 (11–63) (n=180) | 125 (83–279) (n=18) | 102 (80–188) (n=16) | |
| 4: Poorly controlled reflux/dyspepsia, NO alarm symptoms | 2012 | 103†(82–131) (n=120) | 72*(50–93) (n=50) | 194 (140–302) (n=50) | 56 (32–85) (n=18) |
| 2008 | 100†(92–126) (n=187) | 46 (34–62) (n=75) | 163 (128–193) (n=75) | 81 (51–102) (n=28) | |
| 2005 | 73 (60–92) (n=92) | 34 (8–118) (n=21) | 153 (52–253) (n=21) | 56 (14–133) (n=18) | |
| 5: Dyspepsia WITH alarm symptoms | 2012 | 40 (20–105) (n=32) | 11 (4–55) (n=12) | 61 (28–154) (n=12) | 68†(27–155) (n=13) |
| 2008 | 52 (33–76) (n=52) | 11 (3–52) (n=21) | 99 (29–150) (n=21) | 33 (13–85) (n=15) | |
| 2005 | 57 (43–70) (n=208) | 41 (13–52) (n=54) | 106 (89–149) (n=54) | 18 (11–29) (n=50) | |
| 6: Confirmation of celiac disease antibody test | 2012 | 138*(77–217) (n=12) | 72 (23–139) (n=6) | 205 (137–318) (n=6) | 131 (n=5) |
| 2008 | 64 (40–127) (n=16) | 36 (6–176) (n=7) | 96 (20–309) (n=7) | 83 (7–160) (n=7) | |
| 7: Painless obstructive acute jaundice | 2012 | 4 (n=4) | 4 (n=3) | 5 (n=3) | 1 (n=2) |
| 2008 | 19 (1–225) (n=8) | 2 (n=3) | 19 (n=3) | 22 (n=2) | |
| 8: Persistent (>6 months) abnormal liver function tests | 2012 | 122 (67–156) (n=60) | 28 (n=4) | 84 (n=4) | (n=0) |
| 2008 | 112 (81–126) (n=61) | 25 (14–462) (n=7) | 139 (30–756) (n=7) | 65 (n=3) | |
| 9: Chronic viral hepatitis | 2012 | 129*(91–183) (n=38) | 80 (n=4) | 147 (n=4) | (n=0) |
| 2008 | 72 (44–122) (n=38) | 126 (18–710) (n=8) | 169 (76–979) (n=8) | (n=0) | |
| 10: Chronic abdominal pain | 2012 | 102 (89–140) (n=156) | 67 (43–91) (n=42) | 153 (109–219) (n=42) | 105 (46–208) (n=10) |
| 2008 | 105 (91–119) (n=196) | 44 (28–72) (n=54) | 152 (104–198) (n=54) | 136 (112–343) (n=7) | |
| 11: Clinical features of significant active IBD | 2012 | 72 (52–121) (n=73) | 44 (27–100) (n=31) | 126 (62–199) (n=31) | 37 (n=2) |
| 2008 | 66 (48–86) (n=116) | 35 (25–60) (n=39) | 120 (62–141) (n=39) | 74 (25–148) (n=12) | |
| 2005 | 53 (22–99) (n=50) | 12 (2–153) (n=10) | 158 (35–367) (n=10) | 26 (1–64) (n=10) | |
| 12: Chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation | 2012 | 126†(103–141) (n=135) | 52 (30–64) (n=29) | 162 (116–221) (n=29) | 150 (41–334) (n=13) |
| 2008 | 119†(99–129) (n=211) | 57 (42–71) (n=70) | 186†(161–222) (n=70) | 121 (97–244) (n=18) | |
| 2005 | 72 (65–84) (n=368) | 49 (22–71) (n=76) | 130 (92–157) (n=76) | 99 (32–206) (n=36) | |
| 13: New-onset change in bowel habit | 2012 | 84 (48–110) (n=54) | 49 (18–68) (n=21) | 103 (84–215) (n=21) | 35 (24–137) (n=9) |
| 2008 | 75 (63–90) (n=95) | 38 (19–68) (n=39) | 148 (98–210) (n=39) | 81 (40–113) (n=14) | |
| 14: Bright red rectal bleeding | 2012 | 82 (54–104) (n=127) | 44 (32–64) (n=65) | 142 (92–181) (n=65) | 44*(21–100) (n=33) |
| 2008 | 58 (46–75) (n=159) | 54 (34–67) (n=81) | 136 (107–161) (n=81) | 87 (56–134) (n=50) | |
| 15: Documented iron deficiency anemia | 2012 | 55 (40–73) (n=77) | 42 (29–58) (n=39) | 97 (62–160) (n=39) | 77†(27–122) (n=16) |
| 2008 | 56†(38–71) (n=104) | 35 (25–64) (n=50) | 90 (70–137) (n=50) | 68†(30–123) (n=28) | |
| 2005 | 42 (29–53) (n=201) | 18 (10–43) (n=58) | 77 (33–100) (n=58) | 24 (14–56) (n=48) | |
| 16: Fecal occult blood test positive | 2012 | 56 (34–97) (n=44) | 50 (28–62) (n=31) | 105 (68–182) (n=31) | 32 (16–127) (n=13) |
| 2008 | 77 (61–92) (n=65) | 41 (30–82) (n=30) | 143 (122–219) (n=30) | 77 (20–136) (n=14) | |
| 2005 | 57 (45–78) (n=97) | 35 (21–57) (n=23) | 97 (70–155) (n=23) | 23 (18–55) (n=28) | |
| 17: Screening colonoscopy | 2012 | 150*(130–174) (n=216) | 94 (70–128) (n=115) | 279*(239–321) (n=115) | 153*(125–188) (n=112) |
| 2008 | 127 (116–142) (n=309) | 72 (61–93) (n=160) | 201 (179–240) (n=160) | 201 (173–250) (n=128) | |
| 18: Cancer likely based on imaging or physical exam | 2012 | 24 (8–59) (n=23) | 13 (1–42) (n=8) | 22 (6–182) (n=8) | 15 (2–89) (n=11) |
| 2008 | 72†(33–107) (n=37) | 36†(12–57) (n=16) | 82†(34–170) (n=16) | 21 (12–78) (n=28) | |
| 2005 | 14 (7–23) (n=53) | 5 (1–16) (n=10) | 9 (3–75) (n=10) | 13 (5–26) (n=41) | |
Data presented as median (95% CI). Bolded indications had data available from all three surveys. Note: Lower and upper bound of 95% CI only available when sample size >5.
*
Significantly different from 2008 (P<0.05);
†
Significantly different from 2005 (P<0.05). exam Examination; IBD Inflammatory bowel disease; GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease