Introduction: For lung cancer, the total interval time to diagnosis (TITD) is very important. If not detected by the screening program, the actual guidelines emphasize the need for a short delay to assure the initiation of treatment before 2 months from the initial symptoms. In order to shorten TITD, the individual risk has to be properly assessed by the primary physician.
Objective: The assessment of the influence of the occupational exposure on the diagnostic delay-from the onset of symptoms to confirmed diagnosis-in a population of patients with lung cancer.
Material and methods: A total of 110 cases were recruited and were divided into two groups based on the individual assessment by an occupational physician.
Results: There were 38 cases (34.55%) at high risk according to their occupational exposure and 72 controls. On average, the TITD was 3.41 +/-5.12 months. The TITD was significantly longer in the high-risk group (p = 0.03). A larger proportion cases had longer TITD: 55.17% of cases vs. 44.83% of controls (p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis including covariates' age, sex, level of education, health literacy, number of packs-years, family history of cancer, and previous lung diseases associated with a high risk of lung cancer, the highest risk derived from the previous occupational exposure was the only variable statistically associated with TITD (OR = 10.57, 2.06-54.34, p = 0.01).
Discussion: Awareness about the occupational risk in workers who are or have been exposed and in health providers could reduce the total interval time to diagnosis.
Keywords: lung cancer; occupational carcinogens; occupational exposure; total interval time to diagnosis.