Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden Research Articles

Latent heterogeneity of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in patient characteristics and survival: A population-based nation-wide study in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe).

Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) constitute a heterogenous group in terms of patient and tumour characteristics ('case-mix') and prognosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether differences in survival could be used to separate MIBC patients into separate classes using a recently developed latent class regression method for survival analysis with competing risks. We selected all participants diagnosed with MIBC in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBase) and analysed inter-patient heterogeneity in risk of death from bladder cancer and other causes. Using data from 9653 MIBC patients, we detected heterogeneity with six distinct latent classes in the studied population. The largest, and most frail class included 50% of the study population and was characterised by a somewhat larger proportion of women, higher age at diagnosis, more advanced disease and lower probability of curative treatment. Despite this, patients in this class treated with curative intent by radical cystectomy or radiotherapy had a lower association to risk of death. The second largest class included 23% and was substantially less frail as compared to the largest class. The third and fourth class included each around 9%-10%, whereas the fifth and sixth class included each 3%-4% of the population. Results from the current study are compatible with previous research and the method can be used to adjust comparisons in prognosis between MIBC populations for influential differences in the distribution of sub-classes.

Preoperative upper tract invasive diagnostic modalities are associated with intravesical recurrence following surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A population-based study.

Intravesical recurrence (IVR) after surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a clinical problem. We investigated if preoperative invasive diagnostic modalities (IDM) such as antegrade/retrograde uretero-pyelography and/or selective urine cytology/barbotage, and URS with or without concomitant biopsy are associated with IVR after radical surgery for UTUC. Risk of death from urothelial cancer and all causes was investigated as secondary outcomes. We investigated a population-based cohort of 1038 consecutive patients subjected to radical surgery for UTUC 2015-2019 in Sweden, using the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe 2.0), comprising all patients in the Swedish National Registry of Urinary Bladder Cancer. Risk estimates of IVR, death from urothelial cancer, and all causes was assessed using multivariable Cox regression models. The study included 536 cases with and 502 without preoperative IDM. IDM was associated with increased risk of IVR (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.52) and risk of urothelial cancer death (HR 1.56, CI 1.12-2.18), compared to no IDM after a median follow-up of 1.3 yrs. Stratified analysis for tumor location showed that IDM was associated with risk of IVR in ureteric cancer (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.21-2.28) but not in renal pelvic cancer (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.81-1.41). Limitations included the observational setting and the lack of variables such as tumour grade, multifocality and preoperative hydronephrosis. Worse outcomes for patients subjected to preoperative IDM highlight the need for carefully considering diagnostic decisions for UTUC patients, specifically in tumours located in the ureter.

Short term outcomes after robot assisted and open cystectomy - A nation-wide population-based study

IntroductionWe aimed to compare short term outcomes after robot assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and open radical cystectomy (ORC) for urinary bladder cancer in a large population. Materials and methodsWe included all patients without distant metastases who underwent either RARC or ORC with ileal conduit between 2011 and 2019 registered in the Bladder cancer data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe) 2.0. Primary outcome was unplanned readmissions within 90 days, and secondary outcomes within 90 days of surgery were reoperations, Clavien 3–5 complications, total days alive and out of hospital, and mortality. The analysis was carried out using multivariate regression models. ResultsOut of 2905 patients, 832 were operated with RARC and 2073 with ORC. Robotic procedures were to a larger extent performed during later years, at high volume centers (47% vs 17%), more often for organ-confined disease (82% vs. 72%) and more frequently in patients with high socioeconomic status (26% vs. 21%). Patients operated with RARC were more commonly readmitted (29% vs. 25%). In multivariable analysis RARC was associated with decreased risk of Clavien 3–5 complications (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47–0.72), reoperations (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.71) and had more days alive and out of hospital (mean difference 3.7 days, 95% CI 2.4–5.0). ConclusionThis study illustrates the “real-world” effects of a gradual and nation-wide introduction of RARC. Patients operated with RARC had fewer major complications and reoperations but were more frequently readmitted compared to ORC. The observed differences were largely due to more wound related complications among patients treated with ORC.

Cohort profile: Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe) 2.0

PurposeWe constructed Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe) 2.0 to expand studies in BladderBaSe on incidence, treatment outcomes, side effects, survival and health economic aspects of men and women with...

Bladder cancer recurrence in papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP) compared to G1 WHO 1999: a population-based study

Objective Papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP) and stage TaG1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represent separate categories in current WHO 1999 grade definitions. Similarly, PUNLMP and Ta low-grade are separate entities in the WHO 2004/2016 grading system. However, this classification is currently questioned by reports showing a similar risk of recurrence and progression for both categories. Patients and methods In this population-based study, risk estimates were evaluated in patients diagnosed with PUNLMP (n = 135) or stage TaG1 (n = 2176) NMIBC 2004–2008 with 5-year follow-up registration in the nation-wide Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe). The risk of recurrence was assessed using multivariable Cox regression with adjustment for multiple confounders (age, gender, marital status, comorbidity, educational level, and health care region). Results At five years, 28/135 (21%) patients with PUNLMP and 922/2176 (42%) with TaG1 had local recurrence. The corresponding progression rates were 0.7% (1/135) and 4.0% (86/2176), respectively. A higher relative risk of recurrence was detected in patients with TaG1 tumours compared to PUNLMP (Hazard Ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.0) at 5-year follow-up, while progression events were too few to compare. Conclusions The difference in risk of recurrence between primary stage TaG1 and PUNLMP stands in contrast to the recently adapted notion that treatment and follow-up strategies can be merged into one low-risk group of NMIBC.

Cumulative incidence of ureteroenteric strictures after radical cystectomy in a population-based Swedish cohort

Objective The incidence of benign ureteroenteric strictures following radical cystectomy (RC) for urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is investigated mainly in single-centre studies from high-volume centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cumulative incidence of strictures and risk factors in a population-based cohort. Patients and methods Data was collected from Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe). The primary endpoint was stricture with intervention. Secondary endpoint included hydronephrosis both with/without intervention. Results In total, 5,816 patients were registered as having had RC due to UBC between 1997 and 2014. After a median follow-up of 23.5 months (IQR = 9.0–63.1 months; range = 0.0–214.0 months), we found that 515 (8.9%) patients underwent intervention for stricture. Seven hundred and sixty-one (13.1%) patients were diagnosed with hydronephrosis without intervention. The cumulative incidence of strictures with intervention was 19.7% (95% CI = 16.7–23.1%) during the 17 years of follow-up. In the first year, the cumulative incidence of strictures was 5.6% (95% CI = 5.0–6.2%), and in the first 2 years 8.4% (95% CI = 7.6–9.3%). For the secondary endpoint, the cumulative incidence was 30.4% (95% CI = 26.7–33.1%) after 17 years. Only the year of RC was associated with stricture incidence in Cox regression analysis, whereas hospital cystectomy volume, patient age and patient sex were not. Conclusion Ureteroenteric strictures requiring intervention may be more common than previously reported, affecting nearly one fifth of patients who have undergone RC for UBC. The annual incidence was highest in the first 2 years after surgery but the cumulative incidence increased continuously during 17 years of follow-up.

A population-based study on the effect of a routine second-look resection on survival in primary stage T1 bladder cancer

Objective To assess the value of second-look resection (SLR) in stage T1 bladder cancer (BCa) with respect to progression-free survival (PFS), and also the secondary outcomes recurrence-free survival (RFS), bladder-cancer-specific survival (CSS), and cystectomy-free survival (CFS). Patients and methods The study included 2456 patients diagnosed with stage T1 BCa 2004–2009 with 5-yr follow-up registration in the nationwide Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe). PFS, RFS, CSS, and CFS were evaluated in stage T1 BCa patients with or without routine SLR, using univariate and multivariable Cox regression with adjustment for multiple confounders (age, gender, tumour grade, intravesical treatment, hospital volume, comorbidity, and educational level). Results SLR was performed in 642 (26%) individuals, and more frequently on patients who were aged < 75 yr, had grade 3 tumours, and had less comorbidity. There was no association between SLR and PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.1, confidence interval [CI] 0.85–1.3), RFS (HR 1.0, CI 0.90–1.2), CFS (HR 1.2, CI 0.95–1.5) or CSS (HR 1.1, CI 0.89–1.4). Conclusions We found similar survival outcomes in patients with and patients without SLR, but our study is likely affected by selection mechanisms. A randomised study defining the role of SLR in stage T1 BCa would be highly relevant to guide current praxis.

Cumulative incidence of midline incisional hernia and its surgical treatment after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer: A nation-wide population-based study.

To study the cumulative incidence and surgical treatment of midline incisional hernia (MIH) after cystectomy for bladder cancer. In the nationwide Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe), cystectomy was performed in 5646 individuals. Cumulative incidence MIH and surgery for MIH were investigated in relation to age, gender, comorbidity, previous laparotomy and/or inguinal hernia repair, operative technique, primary/secondary cystectomy, postoperative wound dehiscence, year of surgery, and period-specific mean annual hospital cystectomy volume (PSMAV). Three years after cystectomy the cumulative incidence of MIH and surgery for MIH was 8% and 4%, respectively. The cumulative incidence MIH was 12%, 9% and 7% in patients having urinary diversion with continent cutaneous pouch, orthotopic neobladder and ileal conduit. Patients with postoperative wound dehiscence had a higher three-year cumulative incidence MIH (20%) compared to 8% without. The corresponding cumulative incidence surgery for MIH three years after cystectomy was 9%, 6%, and 4% for continent cutaneous, neobladder, and conduit diversion, respectively, and 11% for individuals with postoperative wound dehiscence (vs 4% without). Using multivariable Cox regression, secondary cystectomy (HR 1.3 (1.0-1.7)), continent cutaneous diversion (HR 1.9 (1.1-2.4)), robot-assisted cystectomy (HR 1.8 (1-3.2)), wound dehiscence (HR 3.0 (2.0-4.7)), cystectomy in hospitals with PSMAV 10-25 (HR 1.4 (1.0-1.9)), as well as cystectomy during later years (HRs 2.5-3.1) were all independently associated with increased risk of MIH. The cumulative incidence of MIH was 8% three years postoperatively, and increase over time. Avoiding postoperative wound dehiscence after midline closure is important to decrease the risk of MIH.

Thromboembolism in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. A Population-based Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND: Routine VTE prophylaxis within 30 days of radical cystectomy (RC) for urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is used to protect from venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, randomized studies and nationwide population-based studies are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To study VTE and risk factors for VTE in muscle-invasive UBC in a nationwide population-based series, with a focus on the association with RC with and without chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied all patients with clinical stage T2-T4 UBC diagnosed 1997 to 2014 in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe). Previous VTE events and risk factors for VTE were registered from 1987. Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier curves were performed to study risk factors for VTE and cumulative incidence of VTE. RESULTS: In 9720 patients (71%males) with a median age of 74 years 546 (5.6%) had VTE after diagnosis. In Cox analyses controlling for patient’s and tumour characteristics, and risk factors for VTE, VTE after diagnosis and first treatment date were associated with chemotherapy with or without RC. Cumulative incidence of VTE increased during 24 months after diagnosis and first treatment date. VTE were less common in patients with previous cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: VTE was commonly observed after 30 days from diagnosis and from first treatment date in patients with T2-T4 UBC, particularly after chemotherapy. The findings suggest that long-term intervention studies of benefit and possible harms of VTE prophylaxis after UBC should be undertaken.

Treatment and prognosis of patients with urinary bladder cancer with other primary cancers: a nationwide population-based study in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe).

To study how patients with urinary bladder cancer (UBC) with previous or concomitant other primary cancers (OPCs) were treated, and to investigate their prognosis. Using nationwide population-based data in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe), we analysed the probability of treatment with curative intent, and UBC-specific and overall survival (OS) in patients with UBC diagnosed in the period 1997-2014 with or without OPC. The analyses considered the patient's characteristics, UBC tumour stage at diagnosis, and site of OPC. There were 38689 patients, of which 9804 (25%) had OPCs. Those with synchronous OPCs more often had T2 and T3 tumours and clinically distant disease at diagnosis than those with UBC only. Patients with synchronous prostate cancer, female genital cancer and lower gastro-intestinal cancer were more often treated with curative intent than patients with UBC only. When models of survival were adjusted for age at diagnosis, marital status, education, year of diagnosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index and T-stage, UBC-specific survival was similar to patients with UBC only, but OS was lower for patients with synchronous OPC, explained mainly by deaths in OPC primaries with a bad prognosis. OPC is common in patients with UBC. Treatment for UBC, after or in conjunction with an OPC, should not be neglected and carries just as high a probability of success as treatment in patients with UBC only. The needs of patients with UBC and OPC, and optimisation of their treatment considering their complicated disease trajectory are important areas of research.

MP72-10 THE OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH HIGH-RISK NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER IN SWEDEN

You have accessJournal of UrologyBladder Cancer: Non-invasive III (MP72)1 Apr 2020MP72-10 THE OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH HIGH-RISK NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER IN SWEDEN Eugen Wang*, Ulf Larsson, Truls Gårdmark, and Per-Uno Malmström Eugen Wang*Eugen Wang* More articles by this author , Ulf LarssonUlf Larsson More articles by this author , Truls GårdmarkTruls Gårdmark More articles by this author , and Per-Uno MalmströmPer-Uno Malmström More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000952.010AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: At the time of bladder cancer detection, about 2/3 are non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The high-risk NMIBC tumor types (TaG3, T1G2,T1G3 or/and Tis) present an increased risk of progression to deep-growing cancer and metastasis. Our aim was to identify this group of patients in the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe) and analyze the cancer specific survival after different managements. METHODS: BladderBaSe was created in 2015. This database links information from the Swedish National Register of Urinary Bladder Cancer (SNRUBC) from 1997 to 2014, with a number of national health care and demographic registers through the use of the personal identification numbers. The national register has detailed data on 97% of the bladder cancer cases diagnosed in Sweden. In 1997-2014 in Sweden, a total of 26808 patients were diangosed with NMIBC, of whom 10209 were high-risk cancer with median age 71 and 80 % male. 5660 patients were treated with TURBT only, 3862 had inital Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Radical cystectomy was performed in 687 patients initially while 399 had delayed cystectomy after BCG. RESULTS: Characteristics of patients with high risk NMIBC is shown in table 1. During the follow-up 5 years, the cancer specific survival chance was higher for the BCG group (85 %) than it was for the initial radical cystectomy (75 %) or TURBT only group (65 %). (Fig.1). In a Cox proportional hazards model younger patients, lower cancer stage, initial treatment with BCG and treatment in high volume university hospital was associated with better survival. CONCLUSIONS: Initial BCG installation with or without delayed cystectomy improved cancer specific survival more than initial cystectomy in high-grade T1 bladder cancer in this population registry. However selection criteria could be a cause for confounding and will be further studied. Source of Funding: Schmekel fund in Urological research © 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 203Issue Supplement 4April 2020Page: e1077-e1077 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Eugen Wang* More articles by this author Ulf Larsson More articles by this author Truls Gårdmark More articles by this author Per-Uno Malmström More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

A Nationwide, Population Based Analysis of Patients with Organ Confined, Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Not Receiving Curative Intent Therapy in Sweden from 1997 to 2014

While radical cystectomy remains the standard treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer, the natural history of patients unable or unwilling to receive therapy with curative intent is not well understood. The study objective was to identify these patients in a population based cohort, investigate the clinical profile and describe time to mortality. We analyzed the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden, a database collected from 1997 to 2014, and identified 9,811 patients with stage T2-T4 disease. Median overall and cancer specific survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Relative risks due to prognostic factors were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Of the 5,592 patients who did not receive therapy with curative intent 68% were male and 32% were female with a median age of 79 and 81 years, respectively. After 1 year patients had been hospitalized an average of 2.1 times for an average of 18.8 days. Major and minor urological surgeries were the most commonly registered procedures during these hospitalizations. Median overall survival was worse in women than in men (7 vs 8 months). Risk factors for death from bladder cancer were higher tumor stage, age greater than 80 years, later year of diagnosis and female gender. Organ confined disease (T2-T3 M0) was diagnosed in 1,352 patients (24%). These patients had a median of 2.4 hospitalizations per patient during the first 12 months after diagnosis. Half of these hospitalizations were due to cancer or genitourinary symptoms. Median overall survival in the organ confined subgroup was 11 months. Most of these patients had stage N0 disease. They had 2-month longer median overall survival but otherwise similar outcomes. These patients experience substantial disease specific morbidity. They are hospitalized frequently during the final year of life and primarily die of bladder cancer progression.

Management and outcome of muscle-invasive bladder cancer with clinical lymph node metastases. A nationwide population-based study in the bladder cancer data base Sweden (BladderBaSe)

Purpose: To investigate the clinical management and outcome of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer with clinical lymph node involvement, using longitudinal nationwide population-based data.Methods: In the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe), treatment and survival in patients with urinary bladder cancer clinical stage T2–T4 N + M0 diagnosed between 1997 and 2014 was investigated. Patients´ characteristics were studied in relation to TNM classification, curative or palliative treatment, cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Age at diagnosis was categorised as ≤60, 61–70, 71–80 and >80 years, and time periods were stratified as follows: 1997–2001, 2002–2005, 2006–2010 and 2011–2014.Results: There were 786 patients (72% males) with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range = 64–79 years). The proportion of patients with high comorbidity increased over time. Despite similar low comorbidity, curative treatment was given to 44% and to 70% of those in older (>70 years) and younger age groups, respectively. Curative treatment decreased over time, but chemotherapy and cystectomy increased to 25% during the last time period. Patients with curative treatment had better survival compared to those with palliative treatment, both regarding CSS and OS in the whole cohort and in all age groups.Conclusions: The low proportion of older patients undergoing treatment with curative intent, despite no or limited comorbidity, indicates missed chances of treatment with curative intent. The reasons for an overall decrease in curative treatment over time need to be analysed and the challenge of coping with an increasing proportion of node-positive patients with clinically significant comorbidity needs to be met.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer: a nationwide investigation on survival

Objectives: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and its effect on survival patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, these RCTs have limited external validity and generalisability and, therefore, the current study aims to use real world evidence in the form of observational data to identify the effect that NAC may have on survival, compared to the use of radical cystectomy (RC) alone.Materials and methods: The study cohort (consisting of 944 patients) was selected as a target trial from the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe). This study calculated 5-year survival and risk of bladder cancer (BC)-specific and overall death by Cox proportional hazard models for the study cohort and a propensity score (PS) matched cohort.Results: Those who had received NAC had higher 5-year survival proportions and decreased risk of both overall and BC specific death (HR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.52–0.97 and HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48–0.94), respectively, as compared to patients who did not receive NAC. The PS matched cohort showed similar estimates, but with larger statistical uncertainty (Overall death: HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.53–1.09 and BC-specific death: HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.50–1.07).Conclusion: Results from the current observational study found similar point estimates for 5-year survival and of relative risks as previous studies. However, the results based on real world evidence had larger statistical variability, resulting in a non-statistically significant effect of NAC on survival. Future studies with detailed validated data can be used to further investigate the effect of NAC in narrower patient groups.

Management and outcome of TaG3 tumours of the urinary bladder in the nationwide, population-based bladder cancer database Sweden (BladderBaSe)

Purpose: To investigate the management of TaG3 tumours of the urinary bladder using nationwide population-based data in relation to the prevailing guidelines, patients’ characteristics, and outcome.Materials and methods: The Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe), including data from the Swedish National Register for Urinary Bladder Cancer (SNRUBC), was used to study all patients with TaG3 bladder cancer diagnosed from 2008 to 2014. Patients were divided into the following management groups: (1) transurethral resection (TUR) only, (2) TUR and intravesical instillation therapy (IVIT), (3) TUR and second-look resection (SLR), and (4) TUR with both SLR and IVIT. Patient and tumour characteristics and outcome were studied.Results: There were 831 patients (83% males) with a median age of 74 years. SLR was performed more often on younger patients, on men, and less often in the Western and Uppsala/Örebro Healthcare regions. IVIT was performed more often with younger patients, with men, in the Western Healthcare region, and less often in the Uppsala/Örebro Healthcare region. Death from bladder cancer occurred in 6% of cases within a median of 29 months (0–84 months) and was lower in the TUR/IVIT and TUR/SLR/IVIT groups compared to the other two groups.Conclusion: In the present study, there was, according to the prevailing treatment guidelines, an under-treatment with SLR for older patients, women, and in some healthcare regions and, similarly, there was an under-treatment with IVIT for older patients. Cancer-specific survival and relative survival were lower in the TUR only group compared to the TUR/IVIT and TUR/SLR/IVIT groups.

Period-specific mean annual hospital volume of radical cystectomy is associated with outcome and perioperative quality of care: a nationwide population-based study.

To investigate the association between hospital volume and overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and quality of care of patients with bladder cancer who undergo radical cystectomy (RC), defined as the use of extended lymphadenectomy (eLND), continent reconstruction, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and treatment delay of <3months. We used the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe) to study survival and indicators of perioperative quality of care in all 3172 patients who underwent RC for primary invasive bladder cancer stage T1-T3 in Sweden between 1997 and 2014. The period-specific mean annual hospital volume (PSMAV) during the 3years preceding surgery was applied as an exposure and analysed using univariate and multivariate mixed models, adjusting for tumour and nodal stage, age, gender, comorbidity, educational level, and NAC. PSMAV was either categorised in tertiles, dichotomised (at ≥25 RCs annually), or used as a continuous variable for every increase of 10 RCs annually. PSMAV in the highest tertile (≥25 RCs annually) was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75-1.0), whereas the corresponding HR for CSS was 0.87(95% CI 0.73-1.04). With PSMAV as a continuous variable, OS was improved for every increase of 10 RCs annually (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-0.99). Moreover, higher PSMAV was associated with increased use of eLND, continent reconstruction and NAC, but also more frequently with a treatment delay of >3months after diagnosis. The current study supports centralisation of RC for bladder cancer, but also underpins the need for monitoring treatment delays associated with referral.

Cohort profile: The Swedish National Register of Urinary Bladder Cancer (SNRUBC) and the Bladder Cancer Data Base Sweden (BladderBaSe)

PurposeTo monitor the quality of bladder cancer care, the Swedish National Register of Urinary Bladder Cancer (SNRUBC) was initiated in 1997. During 2015, in order to study trends in incidence,...