Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39020265›Full record

ArticleBMC ophthalmology2024

Retinoblastoma patients treated in Sri Lanka from 2014 to 2020: epidemiology, clinical status and correlates of lag time in seeking tertiary care services.

Nirosha Kugalingam, Deepthi de Silva, Hiranya Abeysekera, Sriyani Nanayakkara, Shamala Tirimanne, Vishvanath Chandrasekharan, Pushpa Lalani Jayawardana

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nirosha KugalingamDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. niro1907@gmail.com.
Deepthi de SilvaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Hiranya AbeysekeraLady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sriyani NanayakkaraNational Eye Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Shamala TirimanneDepartment of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Vishvanath ChandrasekharanSri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology, Pitipana, Homagama, Sri Lanka.
Pushpa Lalani JayawardanaDepartment of Public Health, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRetinoblastoma (RB) is a tumour of children < 5 years with a incidence of 1 in 20,000. Around 20 RB cases are diagnosed yearly in Sri Lanka, a lower middle-income country with high literacy levels and healthcare free at point of delivery. Incidence, local and systemic severity and mortality related to RB are reportedly high in low- and middle- income countries in comparison to higher income countries. Aims of this study were to describe demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics of Sri Lankan RB patients attending the designated RB unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), Colombo between January 2014 to December 2020, and determine correlates of lag time (LT) for first tertiary care visit after detecting the first symptom/sign.

methodsTwo descriptive cross-sectional studies (DCSS) were conducted, one on 171 RB patients with demographic and clinical data collected between 2017 and 2020. In 2021, the second DCSS took place where socioeconomic and further demographic data were collected using telephone interviews, recruiting a subgroup of 90 (53%), consenting and contactable RB patient/ parent pairs. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were applied to determine correlates of LT of > 4 weeks for first tertiary care visit. Results were expressed as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

resultsLRH survey (N = 171): Median age at diagnosis was 15 months (range 1-94 months; IQR: 8-27); 89 (52%) were females. Groups D and E tumours were 25.7% (n = 44) and 62.6% (n = 107) respectively with 121 (71%) enucleations. The number of deaths were 2 (1.2%). Telephone survey (N = 90): Proportion with LT of > 4 weeks for first tertiary care visit was 58% (n = 52). None of the putative risk factors (ethnicity, parental educational level, socioeconomic status, distance from residence to tertiary care unit and receiving financial assistance) were associated with LT in both analyses.

conclusionDespite a high proportion with groups D and E tumours and enucleations, mortality rate was low, most likely due to availability of designated tertiary care. No correlates for LT of > 4 weeks for tertiary care presentation were identified. Early RB detection needs rigorous implementation of screening strategies and increased awareness among primary care health workers and parents.

Indexed as

Retinal NeoplasmsRetinoblastomaTertiary Health CareChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIncidenceInfantMalePatient Acceptance of Health CareSri LankaEarly screening for RBLag time for tertiary careMortalityRetinoblastomaStaging

Identifiers

PMID39020265
PMCPMC11256412

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.