Exploring Rural-Urban Differences in the Receipt of Nonelective Cancer-specific Gastrointestinal Surgery Using a Multilevel Mixed-Effects Approach.

BACKGROUND: Rural communities constitute a populace marked by various social challenges influencing health outcomes. As such, nonelective surgeries for cancer may have a disproportionate impact on rural populations. We explored patient and county-level factors contributing to differences in the receipt of nonelective cancer-specific surgery between rural and urban residents. METHODS: This retrospective study included adult patients captured in the SEER-Medicare data between January 2008 and December 2015 with an incident stage I-IV cancer of the stomach, liver/intrahepatic bile duct, pancreas, gallbladder/other biliary origin, or small intestine who underwent a cancer-specific surgery. The primary outcome was nonelective cancer-directed surgery among rural versus urban residents. We conducted a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model to adjust for confounders while accounting for county-level clustering. RESULTS: The sample included 10,136 patients who underwent a surgical intervention; 2,941 (29%) were nonelective. The incidence of nonelective surgery was lower among rural compared tourban patients [351 (27%) and 2590(29%); p= 0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in the unadjusted and adjusted odds of nonelective surgery between rural and urban residents [OR 0.88, 95% CI (0.76-1.03); p= 0.11] and [aOR 0.86, 95% CI (0.72-1.02); p= 0.080]. Additionally, high social vulnerability index counties or Black race was significantly associated with increase odds of nonelective surgery [aOR 1.33, 95% CI (1.07-1.65); p=0.009] and [aOR 1.49, 95% CI (1.26-1.77); p<0.0001], respectively. CONCLUSION: This study found no difference in the odds of receiving nonelective surgery for GI foregut cancers between rural and urban populations. However, Black race and high SVI were associated with higher odds of the receipt of nonelective surgery. Further research is warranted to explore if disparities in clinical outcomes exist despite the comparable likelihood of receiving nonelective surgery between rural and urban communities.

Understanding racial differences in financial hardship among older adults surviving cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite Medicare coverage, financial hardship is a prevalent issue among those diagnosed with cancer at age 65 years and older, particularly among those belonging to a racial or ethnic minority group. Sociodemographic, clinical, and area-level factors may mediate this relationship; however, no studies have assessed the extent to which these factors contribute to the racial/ethnic disparities in financial hardship. METHODS: Surveys assessing financial hardship were completed by 721 White (84%) or Black (16%) patients (aged 65 years and older) who were diagnosed with breast (34%), prostate (27%), lung (17%), or colorectal (14%) cancer or lymphoma (9%) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham between 2000 and 2019. Financial hardship included material, psychological, and behavioral domains. Nonlinear Blinder-Oaxaca effect decomposition methods were used to evaluate the extent to which individual and area-level factors contribute to racial disparities in financial hardship. RESULTS: Black patients reported lower income (65% vs. 34% earning <$50,000) and greater scores on the Area Deprivation Index (median, 93.0 vs. 55.0). Black patients reported significantly higher rates of overall (39% vs. 18%), material (29% vs. 11%), and psychological (27% vs. 11%) hardship compared with White patients. Overall, the observed characteristics explained 51% of racial differences in financial hardship among cancer survivors, primarily because of differences in income (23%) and area deprivation (11%). CONCLUSIONS: The current results identify primary contributors to racial disparities in financial hardship among older cancer survivors, which can be used to develop targeted interventions and allocate resources to those at greatest risk for financial hardship.

Estimating the Impact of Rurality in Disparities in Cancer Mortality.

PURPOSE: Estimation of the independent effect of rurality on cancer mortality requires causal inference methodology and consideration of area-level socioeconomic status and rural designations. METHODS: Using SEER data, we identified key incident cancers diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 at age ≥20 years (N = 3,788,273), examining a 20% random sample (n = 757,655). Standardized competing risk and survival models estimated the association between rural residence, defined by Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, and cancer-specific and all-cause mortality, controlling for age at cancer diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, year of diagnosis, and Area Deprivation Index (ADI). We estimated the attributable fraction (AF) of rurality and high ADI (ADI > median) to the probability of mortality. Finally, we examined county measurement issues contributing to mortality rates discordant from hypothesized rates. RESULTS: The 5-year standardized failure probability for cancer mortality for rural patients was 33.9% versus 31.56% for urban. The AF for rural residence was 1.04% at year 1 (0.89% by year 5), the highest among local stage disease (Y1 2.1% to Y5 1.9%). The AF for high ADI was 3.33% in Y1 (2.87% in Y5), while the joint effect of rural residence and high ADI was 4.28% in Y1 (3.71% in Y5). Twenty-two percent of urban counties and 30% of rural were discordant. Among discordant urban counties, 30% were only considered urban because of adjacency to metro area. High ADI was associated with urban discordance and low ADI with rural discordance. CONCLUSION: Rural residence independently contributes to cancer mortality. The rural impact is the greatest among those with localized disease and in high deprivation areas. Rural-urban county designations may mask high-need urban counties, limiting eligibility to state and federal resources dedicated to rural areas.

Contribution of County Characteristics to Disparities in Rural Mortality After Cancer Diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Rural disparities in cancer outcomes have been widely evaluated, but limited evidence is available to describe what characteristics of rural environments contribute to the increased risk of poor outcomes. Therefore, this manuscript sought to assess the mediating effects of county characteristics on the relationship between urban/rural status and mortality among patients with cancer, characterize county profiles, and determine at-risk county profiles alongside rural settings. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2016 were assessed using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results data linked to the 2010 Rural-Urban Commuting Codes and 2010 County Health Rankings. There were 757,655 patients representing 596 counties (of 3,143 in the U.S.) and 12 states. Mediation analyses, conducted in 2023, estimated the direct contribution of rurality to 5-year all-cause survival and the contribution of the rural effect indirectly through County Health Ranking domains. Latent class analysis and survival models identified county groupings and estimated the hazard of mortality associated with class membership. RESULTS: Rankings for premature death, clinical care, and physical environment resulted in rural patients having 17.9%-20.2% less survival time than urban patients. Of this, 4.1%-12.6% of the total excess risk was mediated by these characteristics. Patients living in rural and high-risk county classes saw higher all-cause mortality than those in urban lower-risk counties (hazard ratio=1.04, 95% CI=1.01, 1.08 and 1.07, 95% CI=1.03, 1.11). CONCLUSIONS: Counties with poorer health rankings had increased mortality risks regardless of rurality; however, the poor rankings, notably health behaviors and social and economic factors, elevated the risk for rural counties.

Timing to First Whole Blood Transfusion and Survival Following Severe Hemorrhage in Trauma Patients.

Importance: Civilian trauma centers have revived interest in whole-blood (WB) resuscitation for patients with life-threatening bleeding. However, there remains insufficient evidence that the timing of WB transfusion when given as an adjunct to a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) is associated with a difference in patient survival outcome. Objective: To evaluate whether earlier timing of first WB transfusion is associated with improved survival at 24 hours and 30 days for adult trauma patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program databank from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, for adult patients presenting to US and Canadian adult civilian level 1 and 2 trauma centers with systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, with shock index greater than 1, and requiring MTP who received a WB transfusion within the first 24 hours of emergency department (ED) arrival. Patients with burns, prehospital cardiac arrest, deaths within 1 hour of ED arrival, and interfacility transfers were excluded. Data were analyzed from January 3 to October 2, 2023. Exposure: Patients who received WB as an adjunct to MTP (earlier) compared with patients who had yet to receive WB as part of MTP (later) at any given time point within 24 hours of ED arrival. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes were survival at 24 hours and 30 days. Results: A total of 1394 patients met the inclusion criteria (1155 male [83%]; median age, 39 years [IQR, 25-51 years]). The study cohort included profoundly injured patients (median Injury Severity Score, 27 [IQR, 17-35]). A survival curve demonstrated a difference in survival within 1 hour of ED presentation and WB transfusion. Whole blood transfusion as an adjunct to MTP given earlier compared with later at each time point was associated with improved survival at 24 hours (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.73; P = .003). Similarly, the survival benefit of earlier WB transfusion remained present at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.22-0.45; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, receipt of a WB transfusion earlier at any time point within the first 24 hours of ED arrival was associated with improved survival in patients presenting with severe hemorrhage. The survival benefit was noted shortly after transfusion. The findings of this study are clinically important as the earlier timing of WB administration may offer a survival advantage in actively hemorrhaging patients requiring MTP.

Urban-rural differences in cancer mortality: Operationalizing rurality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess urban-rural differences in cancer mortality across definitions of rurality as (1) established binary cut-points, (2) data-driven binary cut-points, and (3) continuous. METHODS: We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data between 2000 and 2016 to identify incident adult screening-related cancers. Analyses were based on one testing and four validation cohorts (all n = 26,587). Urban-rural status was defined by Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, National Center for Health Statistics codes, and the Index of Relative Rurality. Each was modeled using established binary cut-points, data-driven cut-points, and as continuous. The primary outcome was 5-year cancer-specific mortality. RESULTS: Compared to established cut-points, data-driven cut-points classified more patients as rural, resulted in larger White populations in rural areas, and yielded 7%-14% lower estimates of urban-rural differences in cancer mortality. Further, hazard of cancer mortality increased 4%-67% with continuous rurality measures, revealing important between-unit differences. CONCLUSIONS: Different cut-points introduce variation in urban-rural differences in mortality across definitions, whereas using urban-rural measures as continuous allows rurality to be conceptualized as a continuum, rather than a simple aggregation. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Findings provide alternative cut-points for multiple measures of rurality and support the consideration of utilizing continuous measures of rurality in order to guide future research and policymakers.

Geriatric Assessment Impairment Profiles and Mortality in Older Adults with Gastrointestinal Cancers: Latent Class Analysis of the CARE Registry.

BACKGROUND: Many older adults with cancer have ≥2 impairments on geriatric assessment which impacts present and future frailty status, treatment tolerability, and outcomes. Our objective was to identify and describe distinct geriatric assessment impairment classes using latent class analysis (LCA) in older patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and assess 1-year mortality. METHODS: We used the Cancer & Aging Resilience Evaluation (CARE) Study, a registry of older adults (≥60 years) at University of Alabama at Birmingham. The analytic cohort included patients with gastrointestinal malignancies who completed a self-administered geriatric assessment (CARE tool) before chemotherapy and had ≥1 geriatric assessment impairment. Thirteen geriatric assessment impairments were used as indicators in LCA. Resultant classes were described, mortality was estimated, and risk contrasts (differences, hazard ratios) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. For comparison, estimates were provided for frailty categories (robust, pre-frail, frail) determined from 44 items in the CARE tool. Stratified analyses included high-risk (pancreatic, hepatobiliary, esophageal) vs. low-risk gastrointestinal cancers, and stage (IV vs. I-III). RESULTS: Six geriatric assessment impairment classes were identified: Mild impairment (LC1); Social support impairment (LC2); Weight loss alone (LC3); Impaired, low anxiety/depression (LC4); Impaired with anxiety/depression (LC5); Global impairment (LC6). One-year mortality was 14%, 22%, 29%, 34%, 50% and 50% for LC1-LC6, respectively. For frailty categories, estimates ranged from 18% (robust) to 40% (frail). In stratified analyses, LC4-LC6 consistently had higher mortality estimates compared to LC1. CONCLUSIONS: The 6 geriatric assessment impairment classes showed a wider spread of mortality estimates compared to frailty categories and could be used to identify vulnerable patients and to plan interventions.

A machine learning framework for optimizing obesity care by simulating clinical trajectories and targeted interventions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the important clinical management bottlenecks that contribute to underuse of weight loss surgery (WLS) and assess risk factors for attrition at each of them. METHODS: A multistate conceptual model of progression from primary care to WLS was developed and used to study all adults who were seen by a primary care provider (PCP) and eligible for WLS from 2016 to 2017 at a large institution. Outcomes were progression from each state to each subsequent state in the model: PCP visit, endocrine weight management referral, endocrine weight management visit, WLS referral, WLS visit, and WLS. RESULTS: Beginning with an initial PCP visit, the respective 2-year Kaplan-Meier estimate for each outcome was 35% (n = 2063), 15.6% (n = 930), 6.3% (n = 400), 4.7% (n = 298), and 1.0% (n = 69) among 5876 eligible patients. Individual providers and clinics differed significantly in their referral practices. Female patients, younger patients, those with higher BMI, and those seen by trainees were more likely to progress. A simulated intervention to increase referrals among PCPs would generate about 49 additional WLS procedures over 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study discovered novel insights into the specific dynamics underlying low WLS use rates. This methodology permits in silico testing of interventions designed to optimize obesity care prior to implementation.

Understanding Causes of Inferior Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer.

Individuals diagnosed with cancer as adolescents and young adults (AYAs; ages 15-39 years) face unique vulnerabilities. Compared with individuals diagnosed when younger (≤14 years) or older (≥40 years), AYAs have not seen the same improvement in survival. Furthermore, they sit at a complex moment of social, emotional, and cognitive development, and have a unique interface with the healthcare system. With these observations, NCI prioritized addressing the unique vulnerabilities among AYAs with cancer, and NCCN developed guidelines regarding optimal AYA cancer care. Improvements in certain locales have been seen in the wake of this focus on AYAs, suggesting that continuing to consider AYA outcomes in the context of their specific needs is critical as we strive toward additional improvements. However, it is key to consider the drivers of these outcomes to continue this trajectory. This review presents a holistic conceptual model that includes factors that influence outcomes among AYAs with cancer, including domains in these levels that influence both clinical outcomes (such as relapse and survival) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). These include domains at the patient level, such as social constructs (race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status), behavior (adherence, risk-taking), biologic characteristics (cancer biology, host genetics), medical treatment (treatment regimen, risk-based survivorship care), and treatment-related toxicities. The model also includes domains at the system level, which include treatment location (NCI designation, facility model, AYA program presence), clinical trial enrollment, transdisciplinary communication, fertility preservation, and psychosocial support. Recognizing these multiple factors at the level of the individual and the healthcare system influence AYA outcomes (from HRQoL to survival), it is key not only to consider patient-level interventions and development of novel cancer agents but also to develop systems-level interventions that can be executed in parallel. In this way, the impact can be expanded to a vast number of AYAs.

The Evaluation of Gallstone Disease in the Year Before Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with pancreatic cancer can present with a variety of insidious abdominal symptoms, complicating initial diagnosis. Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer often mirror those associated with gallstone disease, which has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for this malignancy. This study aims to compare the incidence of gallstone disease in the year before diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as compared to the general population, and evaluate the association of gallstone disease with stage at diagnosis and surgical intervention. METHODS: Patients with PDAC were identified from SEER-Medicare (2008-2015). The incidence of gallstone disease (defined as cholelithiasis, cholecystitis and/or cholecystectomy) in the 1 year before cancer diagnosis was compared to the annual incidence in an age-matched, sex-matched, and race-matched noncancer Medicare cohort. RESULTS: Among 14,654 patients with PDAC, 4.4% had gallstone disease in the year before cancer diagnosis. Among the noncancer controls (n = 14,654), 1.9% had gallstone disease. Both cohorts had similar age, sex and race distributions. PDAC patients with gallstone disease were diagnosed at an earlier stage (stage 0/I-II, 45.8% versus 38.1%, P < 0.0001) and a higher proportion underwent resection (22.7% versus 17.4%, P = 0.0004) compared to patients without gallstone disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the year before PDAC diagnosis, patients present with gallstone disease more often than the general population. Improving follow-up care and differential diagnosis strategies may help combat the high mortality rate in PDAC by providing an opportunity for earlier stage of diagnosis and earlier intervention.

The effect of historic redlining on firearm violence.

BACKGROUND: Firearm homicides disproportionately affect young Black men, which in turn have lasting impact of communities of color as a whole. Previous cross-sectional studies have highlighted the role of discriminatory housing policies on the incidence of urban firearm violence. We sought to estimate the effects of racist housing policies on firearm incidence. METHODS: Firearm incident data were obtained from the Boston Police Department and point locations spatially joined with vector files outlining the original 1930 Home Owner Loan Corporation (HOLC) Redlining maps. A regression discontinuity design was used to assess the increased rate of firearm violence crossing from historically "desirable" neighborhoods (Green) to historically "hazardous" neighborhoods (Red and Yellow) based on HOLC definitions. Linear regression models were fit on either side of the geographic boundaries with firearm incidents graphed at varying distances and the regression coefficient calculated at the boundary. RESULTS: Crossing from desirable to Red hazardous designation there was a significant discontinuity with an increase of 4.1 firearm incidents per 1,000 people (95% CI 0.68,7.55). Similarly, when crossing from desirable areas to the Yellow hazardous designation there was a significant discontinuity and increase of 5.9 firearm incidents per 1,000 people (95% CI 1.85,9.86). There was no significant discontinuity between the two hazardous HOLC designations (coefficient -0.93, 95% CI -5.71, 3.85). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant increase in firearm incidents in historically redlined areas of Boston. This suggests that interventions should focus on downstream socioeconomic, demographic, and neighborhood detriments of historically discriminatory housing policies in order to address firearm homicides.

Rural-urban disparities in mortality and geriatric assessment among older adults with cancer: The cancer & aging resilience evaluation (CARE) registry.

INTRODUCTION: Rural-urban disparities persist in cancer mortality, despite improvement in cancer screening and treatment. Although older adults represent the majority of cancer cases and are over-represented in rural areas, few studies have explored rural-urban disparities in mortality and age-related impairments among older adults with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 962 newly-diagnosed older adults (≥60 years) with cancer who underwent geriatric assessment (GA) at their first pre-chemotherapy visit to an academic medical center in the Southeastern United States. We used Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes to classify residence at time of diagnosis into urban and rural areas. We used one-year survival and pre-treatment frailty as outcomes. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the association between residence and one-year mortality, and logistic regression to evaluate the association between residence and pre-treatment frailty. All tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Median age at GA was 68.0 (interquartile rage [IQR]: 64.0, 74.0) years; most had colorectal cancer (24.3%) with advanced stage (III/IV 73.2%) disease. Overall, 11.4% resided in rural and 88.6% in urban areas. Rural areas had a higher proportion of White and less educated participants. After adjustment for age, sex, race, education, employment status, and cancer type/stage, rural residence was associated with higher hazard of one-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23, 2.57) compared to urban residence. Frailty was an effect modifier of this association (HROverall = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.27, 2.57; HRFrail = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.23, 3.41; HRNot Frail = 1.55, 95% CI = 0.90, 2.68). DISCUSSION: Among older adults with newly diagnosed cancer, rural residence was associated with reduced one-year survival, particularly among frail older adults. The rural-urban disparities observed in the current study may be due to frailty in conjunction with disparities in social determinants of health across rural and urban areas. Future studies should focus on understanding and intervening on underlying causes of these disparities.

Defining rurality: an evaluation of rural definitions and the impact on survival estimates.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer living in rural areas have inferior cancer outcomes; however, studies examining this association use varying definitions of "rural," complicating comparisons and limiting the utility of the results for policy makers and future researchers. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data (2000-2016) were used to assess risk of cancer mortality and mortality from any cause across 4 definitions of rurality: Urban Influence codes (UIC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Rural-Urban continuum codes (RUCC), and Index of Relative Rurality. Binary (urban vs rural) and ternary (urban, micropolitan, rural) definitions were evaluated. Multivariable parametric survival models estimated hazards of mortality overall and among 3 cancer groupings: screening related, obesity related, and tobacco related. Definition agreement was also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 3 788 273 patients with an incident cancer representing 605 counties were identified. There was little discordance between binary definitions of rural vs urban and moderate agreement at the 3 levels. Adjusted models using binary definitions revealed 15% to 17% greater hazard of cancer mortality in rural compared with urban. At the 3 levels when comparing rural with metropolitan, RUCC and NCHS saw similarly increased hazard ratios; however, Index of Relative Rurality did not. Screening-related cancers saw the highest hazards of mortality and the largest divergence between definitions. Obesity-related and tobacco-related cancers saw similarly increased hazards of mortality at the binary and ternary levels. CONCLUSIONS: Hazard of death is similar across binary definitions; however, this differed when categorized as ternary or continuous, especially among screening-related cancers. Results suggest that study purpose should direct choice of definitions and categorization.

Historic redlining, social mobility, and firearm violence.

BACKGROUND: Much of the recorded medical literature focuses on individual-level factors that contribute to firearm violence. Recently, studies have highlighted higher incidence of firearm violence in historically redlined and marginalized areas, but few have gone on to study the downstream associations causing these differences. This study aims to understand the effects of historic redlining and current income mobility on firearm violence. METHODS: Using a retrospective cross-sectional design, shooting incidents were spatially joined with redlining vector files and linked to income mobility data (how much a child makes in adulthood). Participants included all assault and homicide incidents involving a firearm in the city of Boston, between 2016 and 2019. The exposure of interest was redlining designation as outlined by the Home Owner's Loan Corporation (HOLC) in the 1930s and income mobility, stratified by race, defined as the income of a child in their 30s compared with where they grew up (census tract level). The outcome measured was shooting rate per census block. RESULTS: We find that increases in Black income mobility (BIM) and White income mobility (WIM) are associated with significant decreases in rates of firearm incidents in all HOLC designations; however, there is a larger decrease with increasing BIM (relative risk, 0.47 per unit increase in BIM [95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.64]; relative risk, 0.81 per unit increase in WIM [95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.93]). Plotting predicted rates of firearm violence in each HOLC designation at different levels of BIM, there were no significant differences in shooting rates between historically harmful and beneficial classifications above $50,000 of BIM. Despite level of WIM, there were continued disparities between harmful and beneficial HOLC classification. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of structural racism in the form of redlining and discriminatory housing policies, and the preclusion from economic mobility therein, on the incidence of firearm violence today. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.

The Persistence of Poverty and its Impact on Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Survival.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of persistent poverty on the diagnosis, surgical resection and survival of patients with non-small cell lung (NSCLC), breast, and colorectal cancer. BACKGROUND: Disparities in cancer outcomes exist in counties with high levels of poverty, defined as ≥20% of residents below the federal poverty level. Despite this well-established association, little is known about how the duration of poverty impacts cancer care and outcomes. One measure of poverty duration is that of "persistent poverty," defined as counties in high poverty since 1980. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with NSCLC, breast and colorectal cancer were identified from SEER (2012-2016). County-level poverty was obtained from the American Community Survey (1980-2015). Outcomes included advanced stage at diagnosis (stage III-IV), resection of localized disease (stage I-II) and cancer-specific survival. Hierarchical generalized linear models and accelerated failure time models with Weibull distribution were used, adjusted for patient-level covariates and region. RESULTS: Overall, 522,514 patients were identified, of which 5.1% were in persistent poverty. Patients in persistent poverty were more likely to present with advanced disease [NSCLC odds ratio (OR): 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.18; breast OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.17; colorectal OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.94-1.06], less likely to undergo surgery (NSCLC OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.73-0.90; breast OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.94; colorectal OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70-1.00) and had increased cancer-specific mortality (NSCLC HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.13; breast HR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05-1.32; colorectal HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.17) as compared with those without poverty. These differences were observed to a lesser magnitude in counties with current, but not persistent, poverty and disappeared in counties no longer in poverty. CONCLUSIONS: The duration of poverty has a direct impact on cancer-specific outcomes, with the greatest effect seen in persistent poverty and resolution of disparities when a county is no longer in poverty. Policy focused on directing resources to communities in persistent poverty may represent a possible strategy to reduce disparities in cancer care and outcomes.

Socioeconomic Mediation of Racial Segregation in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment and Outcome Disparities.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the mediating effect of socioeconomic factors on the association between residential segregation and racial disparities in pancreatic cancer (PC). BACKGROUND: Black patients with PC present at a later stage and have worse mortality than White patients. These disparities have been explained by the level of residential segregation. METHODS: Data were obtained from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) and included all Black and White patients who were diagnosed with PC between 2005 and 2015. The primary exposure variable was the Index of Dissimilarity, a validated measure of segregation. County-level socioeconomic variables from the US Census were assessed as mediators. The primary outcomes were advanced stage at diagnosis, surgical resection for localized disease, and overall mortality. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to assess the mediation of each of the socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: Black patients in the highest levels of segregation saw a 12% increased risk [relative risk=1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.15] of presenting at an advanced stage, 11% decreased likelihood of undergoing surgery (relative risk=0.89; 95% CI: 0.83, 0.94), and 8% increased hazards of death (hazard ratio=1.08; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.14) compared with White patients in the lowest levels. The Black share of the population, insurance status, and income inequality mediated 58% of the total effect on the advanced stage. Poverty and Black income immobility mediated 51% of the total effect on surgical resection. Poverty and Black income immobility mediated 50% of the total effect on overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: These socioeconomic factors serve as intervention points for legislators to address the social determinants inherent to the structural racism that mediate poor outcomes for Black patients.

The effect of medicare and screening guidelines on colorectal cancer outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening has been shown effective at reducing stage at presentation, but there is differential uptake of screening based on insurance status. We sought to determine the population-level effect of Medicare and screening guidelines on colorectal screening by race and region. METHODS: Data on Black and white patients with colorectal cancer were obtained from the SEER database. Regression discontinuity was used to assess the causal effect of near-universal health insurance (represented by age 65) and United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines (age 50) on the proportion of people presenting at advanced stage. This was stratified by race and region. RESULTS: In the Southern United States, Black patients saw a significant decrease in advanced stage at presentation at age 65 (coefficient -0.12, p = 0.003), while white patients did not (coefficient -0.03, p = 0.09). At age 50, neither Black (coefficient 0.09, p = 0.10) nor white patients (coefficient -0.04, p = 0.1) saw a significant decrease in advanced stage. In the Western U.S., neither Black (coefficient 0.02, p = 0.72) or white patients (coefficient -0.02, p = 0.09) saw a significant decrease in advanced stage at age 65; however, both Black (coefficient -0.20, p = 0.008) and white patients (coefficient -0.05, p = 0.03) saw a significant decrease at age 50. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the significant impact that near-universal insurance has on reducing colorectal cancer stage at presentation in areas with poor baseline insurance coverage, particularly for Black patients. To reduce disparities in advanced stage at presentation for colorectal cancer, state-level insurance coverage should be addressed.

Using Teamwork to Bridge the Adolescent and Young Adult Gap.

PURPOSE: Individuals diagnosed with cancer age between 15 and 39 years (adolescents and young adults [AYAs]) have not seen improvement in survival compared with children or older adults; clinical trial accrual correlates with survival. Unique unmet needs among AYAs related to psychosocial support and fertility preservation (FP) are associated with health-related quality of life. METHODS: We enhanced existing structures and leveraged faculty/staff across pediatric/adult oncology to create novel teams focused on AYA (age 15-39 years) care at a single center, with minimal dedicated staff and no change to revenue streams. We aimed to influence domains shown to drive survival and health-related quality of life: clinical trial enrollment, physician/staff collaboration, psychosocial support, and FP. We captured metrics 3 months after patients presented to the institution and compared them before/after Program implementation using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among 139 AYAs (age 15-39 years) from the pre-Program era (January 2016-February 2019: adult, n = 79; pediatric, n = 60), and 279 from the post-Program era (February 2019-March 2022: adult, n = 215; pediatric, n = 64), there was no change in clinical trial enrollment(P ≥ .3), whereas there was an increase in the proportion of AYAs referred for supportive care and psychology (pediatric: P ≤ .02; adult: P ≤ .001); whose oncologists discussed FP (pediatric: 15% v 52%, P < .0001; adult: 37% v 50%, P = .0004); and undergoing FP consults (pediatric: 8% v39%, P < .0001; adult 23% v 38%, P = .02). CONCLUSION: This team-based framework has effected change in most targeted domains. To affect all domains and design optimal interventions, it is crucial to understand patient-level and facility-level barriers/facilitators to FP and clinical trial enrollment.

Healthcare utilization trajectory among survivors of colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To examine healthcare utilization patterns among patients < 65 y with colorectal cancer (CRC) from pre-diagnosis to 3 y into survivorship. METHODS: Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database was used to identify patients diagnosed with non-metastatic CRC between 2014 and 2016, with follow-up until 12/31/2019. Total visits (inpatient and outpatient) were estimated for 6 months intervals from 2 y to 1 months prior to CRC diagnosis (pre-cancer phase) and from a 1-y post-cancer diagnosis to a 3-y post-cancer diagnosis (survivorship phase). Utilization patterns from pre- to post-diagnosis were defined using median and 75th percentile visit counts. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses examined pre- and post-cancer diagnosis utilization trends. Multivariable regression models estimated pre-cancer factors associated with high and low utilization patterns. RESULTS: Median age at CRC was 54 y (21-62); 50.6% of the patients were male, 30.9% were diagnosed with rectal cancer. ITS analyses demonstrated four utilization patterns with distinct pre- and post-cancer diagnosis utilization trends. Rectal cancer (RR = 1.13, p < 0.001) and high pre-cancer utilization (RR = 2.05, p < 0.001) were associated with a greater risk of high survivor phase utilization. Gastrointestinal conditions accounted for the greatest proportion of visits in pre-cancer phase (18%) and survivorship (17%), followed by cardiovascular disease (10% and 8%). CONCLUSIONS: Distinct patterns of healthcare utilization are observed both in the pre-cancer phase and survivorship phase of colorectal cancer and are influenced by cancer location, age, therapeutic exposures, and prior healthcare needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Not all patients will require the same level or type of long-term follow-up. Identifying indication-specific healthcare utilization patterns that provide evidence for risk stratification may facilitate a more patient-centric and economically sustainable way to deliver care.

Surveillance Patterns for Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Screening-Eligible Patients in the Medicare Population.

INTRODUCTION: Routine screening plays a critical role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but not all patients undergo consistent surveillance. This study aims to evaluate surveillance patterns and their association with diagnosis stage and survival among Medicare patients at risk for HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HCC and guideline-based screening eligibility who underwent imaging with ultrasound or abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the 2 years prior to diagnosis were identified from SEER-Medicare (2008-2015). Three surveillance cohorts were created: diagnostic (imaging only within 3 months prior), intermittent (imaging only once within 2 years prior, excluding diagnostic), and routine (at least two imaging encounters within 2 years prior, excluding diagnostic). Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict early-stage diagnosis (stage I-II), and 5-year survival was evaluated using the accelerated failure time method with Weibull distribution. RESULTS: Among 2261 eligible patients, 26.1% were classified as diagnostic, 15.8% as intermittent, and 58.1% as routine surveillance. The median age was 74 years (IQR 70-78 years). The majority of patients had a preexisting cirrhosis diagnosis (81.5%). Routine and intermittent, compared with diagnostic, surveillance were predictive of early-stage disease (routine: OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.64-2.56; intermittent: OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.90). Patients who underwent routine surveillance had significantly lower risk of mortality (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.94) compared with the diagnostic group. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of screening-eligible patients do not undergo routine surveillance, which is associated with late-stage diagnosis and higher risk of mortality. These findings demonstrate the impact of timely and consistent healthcare access and can guide interventions for promoting surveillance among these patients.