TOPLINE:
In a matched cohort study of 410,120 patients with cancer, emergency department (ED) visits within 90 days before diagnosis were associated with a significantly increased risk for mortality, and the elevated risk persisted through 7 years of follow-up.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 410,120 adults diagnosed with cancer between 2014 and 2021 in Ontario, Canada, with follow-up until death, 7 years, or March 31, 2024.
A total of 205,060 patients who had ED visits in the 90 days before cancer diagnosis were matched 1:1 with patients without such visits, based on sex, year of diagnosis, and propensity scores.
The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.
TAKEAWAY:
Overall mortality was 61.7% in patients with ED use vs 37.8% in those without ED use; th