title: A retrospective survey of patients with malignant gliomas treated in the neuro-oncological care system under the Universal National Health Insurance program in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou & Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuo-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chin-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jen-Tsung
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jih-Tsun
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chiung-Chyi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Chain-Fa
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Der-Yang
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hsin-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jia-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: E-Jian
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jionn-Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ming-Dar
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Cheng-Kuei
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shen-Long
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howng
authors.forename: Chen-Nen
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology