OBJECTIVE: To describe the variation in the use of radiotherapy (RT) in @entity1 in Ontario within 1 year of diagnosis of @entity0 , from 1982 to 1991, and to identify factors associated with these variations. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based cohort study. SETTING: Ontario. POPULATION: All @entity1 registered by the Ontario @entity5 Registry (OCR) with a diagnosis of invasive @entity0 between Jan. 1, 1982, and Dec. 31, 1991. INTERVENTIONS: RT to any anatomic site within 1 year of the diagnosis of @entity0 . OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds of receiving RT within 1 year of diagnosis (from RT files from all radiotherapy departments in Ontario) associated with year and with geographic, age-related and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Use of RT within 1 year of diagnosis increased from 21.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.8-22.4) in 1982 to 44.7% (95% CI 43.4-46.0) in 1991 (p < 0.0001). Among the regions of Ontario, the use of RT varied from 24.5% (95% CI 23.5-25.6) to 44.4% (95% CI 43.0-45.9) (p < 0.0001). Increasing age was associated with decreasing likelihood of receiving RT (test for trend p < 0.0001), as was decreasing income (test for trend p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of RT within 1 year of the diagnosis of @entity0 in @entity1 in Ontario varies by region, age and income. Despite universal and comprehensive health insurance coverage, @entity1 with @entity0 in some populous regions of Ontario were less likely to receive RT within 1 year of their diagnosis than @entity1 in other populous regions.

Radiotherapy for XXXX in Ontario: rate variation associated with region, age and income.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['Cancer'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['breast cancer']
