A systematic review of factors associated with the patient and diagnostic intervals in gastric cancer.
Gastric CancerJul 8, 2026 (epub)
John A Queenan, Noor Breik, Shaila J Merchant et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined factors influencing the patient and diagnostic intervals in gastric cancer, analyzing 8 studies from 2012 to 2025. It found that patient intervals ranged from 9 to 210 days, while diagnostic intervals ranged from 24 to 84 days. Key risk factors for longer intervals included older age and multimorbidity.
Key findings
- Patient intervals ranged from 9 to 210 days, often longer than health data-based intervals.
- Diagnostic intervals varied from 24 to 84 days, influenced by lower family-physician density.
- Older age and multimorbidity were significant risk factors for prolonged patient intervals.
- Factors like female sex and low diagnostic suspicion were linked to longer diagnostic intervals.
Why it matters
Understanding the factors that prolong patient and diagnostic intervals in gastric cancer is crucial for developing strategies to enhance early detection and improve patient outcomes, particularly in low-incidence countries.
What to keep in mind
The review highlights significant methodological gaps that limit comparability across studies.