Background

The appropriate interval of post-treatment follow-up appointments for uterine cervical cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of reducing the frequency of post-treatment follow-up examinations on life expectancy and medical expenses in cervical cancer patients.

Methods

Cervical cancer patients who were treated with radiotherapy between 2008 and 2017, underwent a less frequent follow-up program, and subsequently developed recurrent disease were included in consecutive group (CG). Non-randomized groups of cervical cancer patients who underwent a frequent follow-up program after radiotherapy between 1997 and 2007, and subsequently developed recurrent disease were also identified through a chart review and served as a comparison group (primary group [PG]). Clinical data regarding the primary disease, follow-up, recurrence, and survival were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses of predictors of survival were performed.

Results

A total of 263 recurrent cervical cancer patients (PG: 154, CG: 109) were included in the current study. A reduction in follow-up frequency of up to 40% did not increase the frequency of symptomatic recurrence (PG: vs. CG: 31.2% vs. 35.8%, p = 0.43) or reduce the median overall survival periods of recurrent cervical cancer patients (PG vs. CG: 32 months vs. 36 months, p = 0.15). However, the reduction in the follow-up frequency significantly reduced follow-up costs.

Conclusion

Reducing the frequency of follow-up by up to 40% did not result in shorter overall survival compared with a conventional follow-up program. The results of this study provide a rationale for future studies investigating the optimal follow-up schedule for patients with cervical cancer.

中文翻译：

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减少随访频率对子宫颈癌患者预期寿命的影响。

背景

子宫颈癌治疗后随访的适当间隔尚不清楚。本研究的目的是调查减少治疗后随访检查频率对宫颈癌患者预期寿命和医疗费用的影响。

方法

2008 年至 2017 年间接受放疗、随访频率较低、随后出现复发的宫颈癌患者被纳入连续组（CG）。还通过图表审查确定了 1997 年至 2007 年间接受放射治疗后频繁随访计划并随后发生复发的宫颈癌患者的非随机分组，并作为对照组（初级组 [PG]）。收集有关原发病、随访、复发和生存的临床数据。进行了生存预测因子的单变量和多变量分析。

结果

本研究共纳入 263 名复发性宫颈癌患者（PG：154，CG：109）。随访频率减少高达 40% 并没有增加症状复发的频率（PG：vs. CG：31.2% vs. 35.8%，p  = 0.43）或减少复发性宫颈癌患者的中位总生存期（PG 与 CG：32 个月与 36 个月，p  = 0.15）。然而，随访频率的降低显着降低了随访成本。

结论

与传统的随访计划相比，将随访频率降低多达 40% 并不会导致更短的总生存期。这项研究的结果为未来研究宫颈癌患者的最佳随访时间表提供了依据。