TY - JOUR
T1 - A retrospective survey of patients with malignant gliomas treated in the neuro-oncological care system under the Universal National Health Insurance program in Taiwan
AU - Huang, Yin Cheng
AU - Wei, Kuo Chen
AU - Chang, Chin Hong
AU - Yang, Jen Tsung
AU - Ho, Jih Tsun
AU - Shen, Chiung Chyi
AU - Su, Chain Fa
AU - Cho, Der Yang
AU - Ma, Hsin I.
AU - Lin, Jia Wei
AU - Lee, E. Jian
AU - Wu, Jionn Jong
AU - Tsai, Ming Dar
AU - Chang, Cheng Kuei
AU - Howng, Shen Long
AU - Chang, Chen Nen
N1 - Funding Information:
This study is sponsored by Taiwan Neuro-Oncology Society and the permissions for this study were approved by the Institute of Review Board from each center before enrollment. Appendix A
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - In 1995 a government-supported Universal National Health care system was implemented in Taiwan, which in 2008 was available to 98% of the population. This system offers affordable, rapid medical attention. A multi-center retrospective study was conducted to assess the prognosis of malignant glioma patients under this system. In 2005 and 2006, patients at 14 independent neuro-oncology centers with newly diagnosed malignant glioma were enrolled. The patient profile, pathology, treatment modalities, and prognosis were collected by questionnaire at each center. The Taiwan Neuro-Oncology Society was responsible for the data analysis. The overall median survival period, 1-year survival rate, and 2-year survival rate for patients with World Health Organization grade III glioma were 33.8 months, 81.4%, and 58.2%, respectively, and 15 months, 57.3%, and 33.9% in patients with grade IV glioma. The median survival period, 1-year survival rate, and 2-year-survival rate in patients receiving temozolomide adjuvant therapy was 36 months, 84.2%, and 61.8%, respectively, for patients with grade III glioma and 19.8 months, 73.1%, and 43.7%, for patients with grade IV glioma. The universal health care system in Taiwan offers a comparable prognosis with an affordable premium relative to other large series in developed countries.
AB - In 1995 a government-supported Universal National Health care system was implemented in Taiwan, which in 2008 was available to 98% of the population. This system offers affordable, rapid medical attention. A multi-center retrospective study was conducted to assess the prognosis of malignant glioma patients under this system. In 2005 and 2006, patients at 14 independent neuro-oncology centers with newly diagnosed malignant glioma were enrolled. The patient profile, pathology, treatment modalities, and prognosis were collected by questionnaire at each center. The Taiwan Neuro-Oncology Society was responsible for the data analysis. The overall median survival period, 1-year survival rate, and 2-year survival rate for patients with World Health Organization grade III glioma were 33.8 months, 81.4%, and 58.2%, respectively, and 15 months, 57.3%, and 33.9% in patients with grade IV glioma. The median survival period, 1-year survival rate, and 2-year-survival rate in patients receiving temozolomide adjuvant therapy was 36 months, 84.2%, and 61.8%, respectively, for patients with grade III glioma and 19.8 months, 73.1%, and 43.7%, for patients with grade IV glioma. The universal health care system in Taiwan offers a comparable prognosis with an affordable premium relative to other large series in developed countries.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.10.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.10.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 21507649
AN - SCOPUS:79955905732
SN - 0967-5868
VL - 18
SP - 784
EP - 788
JO - Journal of Clinical Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Clinical Neuroscience
IS - 6
ER -