Māori patients who may be good candidates for lung cancer surgery are less likely to receive this treatment than their European counterparts, according to a national study. All 27,689 lung cancer registrations over the period 2007 to 2019 were analysed, of whom 14% of Māori patients and 20% of European patients accessed surgery (adjusted odds ratio 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73–0.92]). Corresponding rates for accessing curative surgery were 10% of Māori and 16% of European patients (adjusted odds ratio 0.72; 95% CI 0.62 0.84). Differences in access could only partially be explained by cancer stage and comorbidities. After adjustment for age, there were no differences in access to radiation therapy or systemic therapy. There appeared to be a longer time from diagnosis to radiation therapy for Māori compared with European patients, but the difference was small and requires further investigation.
