Nunavimmi puvakkut kaggutimik aanniaqarniq: Qanuilirqitaa? Lung cancer in Nunavik: How are we doing? A retrospective matched cohort study

Abstract

Background: Whether Inuit in Canada réal residents to each Nunavik resident (n = 141). For small cell lung cancer, experience disparities in lung cancer on sex, age, calendar year of diagnosis, median survival times were 190 (95% survival remains unknown. When and histology (non–small cell lung can-CI 159–308) days for Nunavik (n = 24) requiring investigation and treatment cer v. small cell lung cancer). We and 270 (95% CI 194–766) days for Mont-for lung cancer, all residents of Nunareviewed medical records for data on réal residents (n = 44). Adjusting for vik, the Inuit homeland in Quebec, are additional patient characteristics and matching variables, stage, performance sent to the McGill University Health treatment, and obtained vital status status, and comorbidity, Nunavik resiCentre (MUHC), in Montréal. We sought from a provincial registry. We com-dents had a higher hazard of death to compare survival among patients pared survival using Kaplan–Meier (hazard ratio 1.68, 95% CI 1.17–2.41). with lung cancer at the MUHC, who analysis and Cox proportional hazards were residents of Nunavik and Mont-regression. Interpretation: Nunavik residents réal, Quebec, respectively. experience disparities in survival after Results: We included 95 residents of lung cancer diagnosis. Although studies Methods: We conducted a retrospect-Nunavik and 185 residents of Montréal. in other Inuit Nunangat regions are ive cohort study. Using lung cancer For non–small cell lung cancer, median needed, our findings point to an urgent registry data, we identified Nunavik survival times were 321 (95% confineed to ensure that interventions aimed residents with histologically confirmed dence interval [CI] 184–626) days for at improving lung cancer survival, lung cancer diagnosed between 2005 Nunavik (n = 71) and 720 (95% CI 536–including lung cancer screening, are and 2017. We aimed to match 2 Mont-1208) days for Montréal residents accessible to Inuit Nunangat residents.