Medical Care for Children with Cancer in the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation: An Ecological Study

Abstract

Background.Analysis of statistical data in the federal districts of the Russian Federation provides opportunities to assess the quality of medical care delivery in children with cancer and plan further development with consideration for the point elimination of existing defects. Objective. Our aim was to analyze the main indicators characterizing medical care for children with cancer in the North-West Federal District.Methods.The study analyzed operative reports for 2017 provided by the executive public health authorities of 11 subjects of the Russian Federation affiliated to the North-West Federal District.Results.The pediatric population was 2 537 133 children (0–17 years), the pediatric oncological bed capacity — 174 (0.7 per 10 000 aged 0–17 years), the annual berth average occupancy — 290.7 days. 6 (54.5%) subjects did not provide pediatric population with departments of pediatric oncology, 4 (36.4%) subjects did not have bed capacity. The number of practitioners providing medical care to children with cancer was 38, 27 among them (71%; 0.1 per 10 thousand 0–17 years) had a certificate of pediatric oncologist. 2 (18.2%) subjects did not have pediatric oncologists in the medical stuff. The incidence of malignant tumors in children aged 0–17 was 15.6 (per 100,000), the prevalence was 92.6 (per 100,000), the mortality rate was 2.6 (per 100,000), one-year mortality rate — 4.5% (18/397). The number of patients identified actively was 11 (2.8%). 160 (40.3%) primary patients were sent to Federal medical facilities, 6 (1.5%) — left the territory of the Russian Federation for the further treatment.Conclusion.The incidence and mortality rates are rather low which indicates the defects in patient detection and lack of reliable follow-up data. The percentage of patients referred for treatment to Federal medical facilities is not very high; however, to interpret this indicator according to patient routing, we have to analyze the medical history of all the patients. We can assert that health care delivery service for children with oncological diseases is at an acceptable standard level but needs to be improved.