Quality Indicators for the management of lung cancer
Authors: Vrijens France , Verleye Leen , De Gendt Cindy , Schillemans Viki , Robays Jo , Camberlin Cécile , Dubois Cécile , Stordeur Sabine , Jegou David , Silversmit Geert , Van Eycken E. , Wauters Isabelle , Van Meerbeeck Jan 
Published: January 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS.1 -- SCIENTIFIC REPORT 12 -- 1 HOW TO READ THIS REPORT? 12 -- 2 AIM OF THE PROJECT 13 -- 2.1 INTRODUCTION, AIM OF THE PROJECT AND TARGET AUDIENCE 13 -- 2.2 MEASURING QUALITY 14 -- 3 OVERVIEW OF THE METHODOLOGY.14 -- 4 SELECTING QUALITY INDICATORS: PROCESS AND RESULTS 16 -- 4.1 IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE QUALITY INDICATORS.16 -- 4.1.1 Literature search 16 -- 4.1.2 Addition of guideline-based quality indicators16 -- 4.1.3 Selection process and search results 16 -- 4.2 SELECTION OF QUALITY INDICATORS .20 -- 5 DATA SOURCES24 -- 5.1 DATA SELECTION AND LINKAGE 24 -- 5.1.1 Primary selection 24 -- 5.1.2 Linkage of cancer registry data with health insurance data24 -- 5.1.3 Vital status24 -- 5.1.4 Additional data selection 24 -- 6 PILOT STUDY: VALIDATION OF INDICATOR RESULTS BY SIX HOSPITALS26 -- 6.1 INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL METHOD 26 -- 6.2 VALIDATION OF THE ALGORITHM TO ASSIGN PATIENTS TO A DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE 26 -- 6.2.1 Method 26 -- 6.2.2 Results 28 -- 6.2.3 Conclusion 29 -- 6.3 VALIDATION OF INDICATOR RESULTS .30 -- 6.3.1 Method 30 -- 6.3.2 Results 31 -- 6.3.3 Conclusion 44 -- 7 CASE-MIX ADJUSTMENT 44 -- 8 IDENTIFICATION OF LUNG CANCER PATIENTS COMORBID CONDITIONS BASED ON THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL BILLING DATA.45 -- 8.1 INTRODUCTION.45 -- 8.2 METHODS AND MATERIALS .46 -- 8.2.1 Identification of comorbidities associated with lung cancer46 -- 8.2.2 Measure of comorbidities based on pharmaceutical consumption.46 -- 8.2.3 Selection, definition and validation of the presence of comorbid diseases 46 -- 8.3 RESULTS48 -- 8.3.1 Identification of main comorbidities associated with lung cancer based on the literature review 48 -- 8.3.2 Identification of comorbidities based on the ATC codes 50 -- 8.3.3 Validation phase in six pilot hospitals 51 -- 8.3.4 Measurement of comorbid conditions on the national cohort of patients with lung cancer using pharmaceutical data only .55 -- 8.4 DISCUSSION 57 -- 9 LUNG CANCER PATIENTS IN 2010-2011: DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS 59 -- 9.1 BASELINE DEMOGRAPHICS AND TUMOUR CHARACTERISTICS 59 -- 9.1.1 Patient characteristics59 -- 9.1.2 Tumour characteristics 59 -- 9.1.3 Histopathology 64 -- 9.2 DIAGNOSTIC AND STAGING PROCEDURES 65 -- 9.3 MAIN THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES65 -- 10 IMPACT OF HOSPITAL VOLUME ON PATIENTS TREATMENT AND OUTCOME.75 -- 10.1 IMPACT OF SURGICAL VOLUME ON OUTCOMES 75 -- 10.1.1 Introduction .75 -- 10.1.2 Methods 75 -- 10.1.3 Results 76 -- 10.1.4 Discussion83 -- 10.2 IMPACT OF RADIOTHERAPY VOLUME ON OUTCOMES.85 -- 10.2.1 Introduction .85 -- 10.2.2 Methods 85 -- 10.2.3 Results 85 -- 10.2.4 Discussion91 -- 10.3 IMPACT OF DIAGNOSTIC VOLUME ON OUTCOMES.91 -- 10.3.1 Introduction .91 -- 10.3.2 Methods 91 -- 10.3.3 Results 91 -- 10.3.4 Discussion94 -- 10.4 IMPACT OF DIAGNOSTIC VOLUME ON GUIDELINE-CONCORDANT TREATMENT94 -- 10.4.1 Introduction .94 -- 10.4.2 Methods 94 -- 10.4.3 Results 94 -- 10.4.4 Discussion99 -- 11 CONCLUSION, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.99 -- 12 APPENDICES 100 -- REFERENCES 156