Association between sociodemographic variables and delayed patient presentation among surgical neuro-oncology patients in Mexico City: a single institution experience

Category	Detail
Condition	Central nervous system (CNS) cancers requiring surgical neuro-oncology intervention
Key Mechanisms	Delayed presentation due to sociodemographic factors including low education, low income, high number of dependents, and greater travel distance to tertiary care center
Target Population	Adult neuro-oncology patients (>14 years) undergoing surgery at a tertiary public hospital in Mexico City
Care Setting	Tertiary public hospital (Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, INNN) in Mexico City

Median symptom duration prior to presentation was 37 weeks, indicating significant delays in care.
Sociodemographic factors such as lower education level, lower income, higher number of dependents, and greater distance to INNN are hypothesized to be associated with more severe clinical presentations.
Majority of patients were female (60.1%), median age 48 years, with over half being single and a median of 4 dependents.

Early identification of neuro-oncologic symptoms in rural and underserved populations is critical to reduce delays.
Use of imaging (MRI, CT) to assess tumor volume and clinical severity upon presentation.

Timely referral from rural facilities to tertiary centers like INNN to reduce diagnostic and treatment delays.
Surgical intervention based on tumor characteristics and clinical presentation.

Track duration of symptoms and tumor volume as markers of delayed presentation and disease severity.
Monitor sociodemographic variables to identify at-risk populations for targeted interventions.

Delays in presentation can lead to larger tumor volumes and more advanced disease.
Financial, educational, and transportation barriers contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

366 surgical neuro-oncology patients treated at INNN in 2022, median age 48, 60.1% female

Delays in presentation linked to sociodemographic factors; addressing these may improve timely access to surgical care and outcomes.

Implement targeted outreach and education programs in rural and low-income communities to raise awareness of neuro-oncologic symptoms.
Enhance referral pathways from primary rural facilities to tertiary centers to minimize diagnostic delays.
Incorporate sociodemographic data collection in clinical records to identify patients at risk for delayed presentation.
Utilize multidisciplinary teams to address financial and transportation barriers impacting patient access.

Clinical Scorecard: Exploring the Impact of Sociodemographic Factors on Delayed Presentation in Surgical Neuro-Oncology Patients: Insights from a Single Institution in Mexico City