Comparison of 30-day Morbidity and Mortality in Cancer Patients Based on Emergency Department Location

Patients being followed for cancer account for 2.8% of emergency admissions in France. An acute episode that triggers a visit to the emergency department may be related to the progression of the disease, or to complications of treatment. The management of these patients is often complex and requires a degree of expertise. Emergency departments specialising in the management of cancer complications have been set up, and now deal exclusively with patients treated at their centres. However, for geographical or logistical reasons, patients with cancer are likely to consult a non-specialist emergency department and/or one located outside the cancer care centre. In this case, the emergency doctor may not have access to the oncology file, and care in the emergency department and downstream services may be sub-optimal. Studies have shown a positive impact on the quality of care and prognosis of patients thanks to the cancer centre's expertise. However, the effect of the centre on a cancer patient who visits the emergency department has never been studied. This is particularly true if the emergency department where the patient is seen is located in the cancer follow-up centre.

The primary objective of the COVER study is to investigate the impact of the location of the emergency department where the patient is seen for their prognosis.