Association of Healthcare Fragmentation and the Survival of Patients With Colorectal Cancer in Colombia.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the association between healthcare fragmentation and survival for patients with colorectal cancer in Colombia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using administrative databases, with an electronic algorithm to identify patients with colorectal cancer based on codes. The patients were enrolled between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016.

Fragmentation of Care and Its Association With Survival and Costs for Patients With Breast Cancer in Colombia.

Purpose: Breast cancer care requires a multimodal approach and a multidisciplinary team who must work together to obtain good clinical results. The fragmentation of care can affect the breast cancer care; however, it has not been measured in a low-resource setting. The aim of this study was to identify fragmentation of care, the geographic variation of this and its association with 4-year overall survival (OS), and costs of care for patients with breast cancer enrolled in Colombia's contributory health care system.

Appendectomy in Third Trimester of Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: A Propensity Score Analysis of a 6-Year Cohort Study Using Administrative Claims Data.

Introduction: While there is evidence of obstetric and neonatal outcomes from non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy, surgery during the third trimester of gestation has not been evaluated as a prognostic factor for those outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether appendectomies during the third trimester are associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, in comparison with appendectomies during the first two trimesters, based on national administrative data in Colombia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using administrative health records.

Clinical Outcomes and Healthcare Costs Associated with Laparoscopic Appendectomy in a Middle-Income Country with Universal Health Coverage.

Background: Although many studies have compared outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA), some clinical and economic outcomes continue to be controversial, particularly in low-medium-income countries. We aimed at determining clinical and economic outcomes associated with LA versus OA in adult patients in Colombia.

Methods: Retrospective, cohort study based on administrative healthcare records included all patients who underwent LA or OA in Colombia's contributory regime between July 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015.