Retrospective trial of mortality after emergency department use prior to cancer diagnosis

A retrospective, population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada, evaluated mortality after emergency department (ED) use in the 90 days prior to cancer diagnosis. In this study of 410,120 patients with a cancer diagnosis, patients with ED use prior to diagnosis had statistically significant higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with matched patients without ED use, which decreased with time but persisted throughout follow-up. The authors conclude that these findings emphasize the need for established systems to ensure timely cancer workup for patients in the ED with suspected cancer and the need for health care system improvements to enhance early cancer detection and management.