Outline of Proposed Research:
This project investigates whether individuals with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in the UK experience delayed cancer diagnoses compared to non-MND individuals, a question prompted by emerging evidence suggesting advanced-stage cancer presentation in MND patients. Despite known diagnostic complexity in MND, the potential impact on the timeliness of unrelated diagnoses, like cancer, remains underexplored in large-scale UK cohorts.
Research Questions:
1. Are MND patients more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage compared to matched controls?
2. Does MND status correlate with increased time to cancer diagnosis?
Objectives:
Ob1. Conduct retrospective analysis of UK Biobank data to compare cancer staging at diagnosis in MND vs. non-MND patients.
Ob2. Assess diagnostic delay through survival/time-to-diagnosis metrics.
Ob3. Identify sub-groups most affected by potential diagnostic disparities using stratified analysis.
Scientific Rationale:
MND’s clinical presentation may overshadow other symptoms, potentially delaying investigations for comorbid conditions like cancer. Understanding whether systemic delays exist is vital for informing clinical surveillance strategies and improving healthcare outcomes. This study leverages the UK Biobank’s extensive dataset, offering robust epidemiological power and validated, anonymised health records.
Approach:
The study will use Tier 1 UK Biobank data, applying stratified subgroup analyses and calculating odds and hazard ratios to assess cancer staging and diagnostic intervals. Ethics approval is not required due to existing UK Biobank permissions and protocols. All analysis will occur within the secure UKB Research Analysis Platform.
This pilot will provide vital data for peer-reviewed publication and underpin future funding applications aimed at early-diagnosis tools or screening guidelines for at-risk populations with long-term neurological conditions.