Patient Navigation in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patient navigation promotes access to timely treatment of chronic diseases by eliminating barriers to care. Patient navigation programs have been well-established in improving screening rates and diagnostic resolution. This systematic review aimed to characterize the multifaceted role of patient navigators within the realm of cancer treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: A comprehensive electronic literature review of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the role of patient navigators in cancer treatment from August 1, 2009 to March 27, 2023. Fifty-nine articles were included in this review. Amongst studies focused on cancer treatment initiation, 70% found a significant improvement in treatment initiation amongst patients who were enrolled in patient navigation programs, 71% of studies focused on treatment adherence demonstrated significant improvements in treatment adherence, 87% of studies investigating patient satisfaction showed significant benefits, and 81% of studies reported a positive impact of patient navigators on quality care indicators. Three palliative care studies found beneficial effects of patient navigation. Thirty-seven studies investigated disadvantaged populations, with 76% of them concluded that patient navigators made a positive impact during treatment. This systematic review provides compelling evidence supporting the value of patient navigation programs in cancer treatment. The findings suggest that patient navigation plays a crucial role in improving access to care and optimizing treatment outcomes, especially for disadvantaged cancer patients. Incorporating patient navigation into standard oncology practice can reduce disparities and improve the overall quality of cancer care.

Out-of-Pocket Cost Modeling of Adjuvant Antiestrogen and Radiation Therapy After Lumpectomy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer Across Medicaid and Medicare Plans.

PURPOSE: The optimal adjuvant therapy (antiestrogen therapy [ET] + radiation therapy or ET alone, or in some reports radiation therapy alone) in older women with early-stage breast cancer has been highly debated. However, granular details on the role of insurance in the out-of-pocket cost for patients receiving ET with or without radiation therapy are lacking. This project disaggregates out-of-pocket costs by insurance plans to increase treatment cost transparency. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Several radiation therapy schedules are accepted standards as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. For our financial estimate model, we used the 5-fraction and 15-fraction radiation therapy and ET prescribed over a 5-year duration. The total aggregate out-of-pocket costs were determined from the sum of treatment costs, deductibles, and copays/coinsurance based on Medicaid, Original Medicare, Medigap Plan G, and Medicare Part D Rx plans. The model assumes a Medicare- and/or Medicaid-eligible patient ≥70 years of age with node-negative, early-stage estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. Patient out-of-pocket costs were estimated from publicly available insurance data from plan-specific benefit coverage materials using a 5-year time horizon. RESULTS: Original Medicare beneficiaries face a total out-of-pocket treatment charge of $2738.52 for ET alone, $2221.26 for 5-fraction radiation therapy alone, $2573.92 for 15-fraction radiation therapy alone, $3361.26 for combined ET+ 5-fraction radiation therapy, and $3713.92 for combined ET + 15-fraction radiation therapy. Medigap Plan G beneficiaries have an out-of-pocket charge of $1130.00 with radiation therapy alone and face an out-of-pocket of $2270.00 for ET alone and combined ET+ radiation therapy. For Medicaid beneficiaries, all treatments approved by Medicaid are covered without limit, resulting in no out-of-pocket expense for either adjuvant treatment option. CONCLUSIONS: This model (based on actual cost estimates per insurance plan rather than claims data), by estimating expenses within Medicare and Medicaid plans, provides a level of transparency to patient cost. With knowledge of the costs borne by patients themselves, treatment decisions informed by patients' individual priorities and preferences may be further enhanced.

Financial Toxicity in Radiation Oncology: Impact for Our Patients and for Practicing Radiation Oncologists.

With rising costs of diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, financial burdens on patients with cancer and negative effects from high costs, called financial toxicity (FT), are growing. Research suggests that FT may be experienced by more than half of working-age cancer survivors and a similar proportion may incur debt or avoid recommended prescription medications due to treatment costs. As FT can lead to worse physical, psychological, financial, and survival outcomes, there is a discrete need to identify research gaps around this issue that constrain the development and implementation of effective screening and innovative care delivery interventions. Prior research, including within a radiation oncology-specific context, has sought to identify the scope of FT among patients with cancer, develop assessment tools to evaluate patient risk, quantify financial sacrifices, and qualify care compromises that occur when cancer care is unaffordable. FT is a multifactorial problem and potential solutions should be pursued at all levels of the health care system (patient-provider, institutional, and systemic) with specific regard for patients' individual/local contexts. Solutions may include selecting alternative treatment schedules, discussing financial concerns with patients, providing financial navigation services, low-cost transportation options, and system-wide health policy shifts. This review summarizes existing FT research, describes tools developed to measure FT, and suggests areas for intervention and study to help improve FT and outcomes for radiation oncology patients.

Out-of-Pocket Cost Modeling of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Duration in Standard-of-Care Early Stage Breast Cancer Treatment Across Medicaid and Medicare Plans.

PURPOSE: For early stage breast cancer (BC), the choice of radiation therapy duration (1 vs 3 weeks) is highly debated. Cost and financial toxicity are major concerns that patients with BC face. Nonetheless, there remain limited discussions providing granular details of the role of insurance in the aggregate cost of 1 week versus 3 weeks of radiation therapy for patients. This project aims to disaggregate costs by plan to increase transparency of out-of-pocket (OOP) cost estimates in radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Treatment procedures were determined through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. OOP treatment costs, deductibles, and copays/coinsurance were calculated by using Medicaid, Original Medicare, Medigap Plan G, and Medicare Part D prescription plans. The medicare.gov, medicaid.oh.gov, aarpmedicareplans.com, and the physician fee schedule from cms.gov were used to determine costs by treatment. Price estimates reflect actual costs per insurance plan rather than costs estimated from claims data. All procedures were considered to be performed in an Ohio hospital setting. One-week radiation therapy was defined as 5 fractions without boost, and 3-week radiation therapy was defined as 15 fractions without boost. RESULTS: Medicare beneficiaries with Original Medicare coverage face an OOP treatment charge of $649.24 for 1 week of radiation therapy and $1006.20 for 3 weeks of radiation therapy. Assuming the deductible is met postlumpectomy, Medigap Plan G beneficiaries are faced with no additional charges for both lengths of radiation therapy. Similarly for Medicaid beneficiaries (assuming treatment is approved by Medicaid), all expenses are covered without limit, resulting in no OOP expense. CONCLUSIONS: Considerations of 1 and 3 weeks of radiation therapy for postlumpectomy early-stage BC are often dependent on cancer characteristics and patient preferences. This model (based on actual cost estimates per insurance plan rather than claims data) compares OOP costs across Medicaid and Medicare plans, which more holistically informs providers and patients in radiation therapy duration decision making.

Association between socioeconomic deprivation and presentation with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVE: Given the ongoing nature of research in the social determinants space and urges to improve United States Preventive Services Task Force screening efforts for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), this project aims to characterize the association between the level of socioeconomic deprivation, rurality, and ruptured AAA (rAAA) presentation across the United States. METHODS: We queried the Vascular Quality Initiative registry (2010-2019) for patients with AAAs. The area deprivation index (ADI) is an index from 1 to 100 used to capture socioeconomic status. ADI was grouped into quintiles, with the most deprived regions being quintile 5 and having the highest ADI index. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between ADI, rurality, and rAAA presentation overall and before age 65. RESULTS: Of the 82,909 patients included, 11,458 patients (14%) resided in the most socioeconomically deprived regions, and 18,083 patients (22%) lived in rural regions. Overall, 6831 patients (8.2%) experienced an rAAA, with 4696 patients (69%) residing in the three most deprived quintiles. Most patients underwent endovascular repair (n = 67,933; 82%), followed by open repair (n = 14,976; 18%). On multivariable analysis, residence in the most socioeconomically deprived region was associated with a near 1.5-fold increased odds of presenting with an rAAA compared with a residence in the least deprived regions (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-1.63; P < .001), whereas urban residence was associated with a decreased odds to present with an rAAA compared with rural residence (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89; P < .001). When stratifying the study population by the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended age for AAA screening (65 years old), 14,147 patients (17%) were under 65. Of those under 65, 1381 patients (9.8%) experienced a rAAA, and 9955 patients (71%) resided in the three most deprived quintiles. Residence in the most socioeconomically deprived region was associated with an increased odds of presenting with an rAAA compared with residence in the least deprived region (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.69; P = .042). However, there were no significant associations between rural residence and increased rAAA presentation among individuals under 65 (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.93-1.23; P = .36). CONCLUSIONS: Among all patients in this study, patients residing in highly socioeconomically deprived or rural regions were more likely to present with an rAAA, but among those under 65, only residence in a socioeconomically deprived area was associated with increased odds of rAAA presentation. Understanding the effects of socioeconomic deprivation on rAAA presentation can identify at-risk populations for early AAA screening before rupture.

Surgical management of 1- to 2-cm neuroendocrine tumors of the appendix: Appendectomy or right hemicolectomy?

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of 1- to 2-cm neuroendocrine tumors of the appendix is an area of debate. We analyzed the clinical outcomes of appendectomy and compared them to right hemicolectomy. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients treated for 1- to 2-cm ANETs from 2004 to 2018. Patients were stratified by surgical approach (appendectomy vs. hemicolectomy). Multivariable models were used to identify factors associated with the choice of surgical approach and the association between surgical approach and overall survival. RESULTS: Of the 3,189 patients we included, 1,573 (49.3%) underwent right hemicolectomy and 1,616 (50.7%) appendectomy. The appendectomy rate increased from 37.7% in 2004 to 58.9% in 2018. On multivariable analysis, patients with grade 2 and 3 tumors were less likely to undergo appendectomy alone (odds ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval = 0.26-0.66). Longer travel distance was associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing appendectomy (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.15-5.51). After adjusting for tumor grade, appendectomy alone had similar survival to hemicolectomy (hazard ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 0.67-1.59). CONCLUSION: In this updated analysis of the National Cancer Database, right hemicolectomy was not associated with improved overall survival compared to appendectomy alone for 1- to 2-cm neuroendocrine tumors of the appendix. Although patients with grade 2 or 3 tumors are more likely to undergo right hemicolectomy, this procedure may not improve their treatment or overall outcome.

Do discussions of financial burdens decrease long-term financial toxicity in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors?

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the associations between patient-provider cost discussions with patient-reported out-of-pocket (OOP) spending and long-term financial toxicity (FT) among adolescent and young adult (AYA; 15-39 years old) cancer survivors. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey, we assessed the themes and quality of patient discussions with providers about financial needs and general survivorship preparation, quantified patients' levels of FT, and evaluated patient-reported OOP spending. We determined the association between cancer treatment cost discussion and FT using multivariable analysis. In a subset of survivors (n = 18), we conducted qualitative interviews and used thematic analysis to characterize responses. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven AYA survivors completed the survey at a mean of 7 years post treatment and with a median COST score of 13. 70% of AYA survivors did not recall having any cost discussion about their cancer treatment with a provider. Having any cost discussion with a provider was associated with decreased FT (ß = 3.00; p = 0.02) but not associated with reduced OOP spending (χ2 = 3.77; p = 0.44). In a second adjusted model, with OOP spending included as a covariate, OOP spending was a significant predictor of FT (ß = - 1.40; p = 0.002). Key qualitative themes included survivors' frustration about the lack of communication related to financial issues throughout treatment and in survivorship, feeling unprepared, and reluctance to seek help. CONCLUSION: AYA patients are not fully informed about the costs of cancer care and FT; the dearth of cost discussions between patients and providers may represent a missed opportunity to reduce costs.

Rural Communities in the United States Face Persistent Disparities in Access to Orthopaedic Surgical Care.

Background: Access to orthopaedic care across the United States (U.S.) remains an important issue, however, no recent study has examined disparities in rural access to orthopaedic care. The goals of the present study were to (1) investigate trends in the proportion of rural orthopaedic surgeons from 2013 to 2018 as well as the proportion of rural U.S. counties with access to such surgeons and (2) analyze characteristics associated with choice of a rural practice setting. Methods: The study analyzed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Compare National Downloadable File (PC-NDF) for all active orthopaedic surgeons from 2013 to 2018. Rural practice settings were defined using Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes. Linear regression analysis investigated trends in rural orthopaedic surgeon volume. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association of surgeon characteristics with rural practice setting. Results: The total number of orthopaedic surgeons increased 1.9%, from 21,045 (2013) to 21,456 (2018). Meanwhile, the proportion of rural orthopaedic surgeons decreased by roughly 0.9%, from 578 (2013) to 559 (2018). From a per capita perspective, the number of orthopaedic surgeons practicing in a rural setting per 100,000 population ranged from 4.55 orthopaedic surgeons per 100,000 in 2013 and 4.47 per 100,000 in 2018. Meanwhile, the number of orthopaedic surgeons practicing in an urban setting ranged from 6.63 per 100,000 in 2013 and 6.35 per 100,000 in 2018. The surgeon characteristics most associated with decreased odds of practicing orthopaedic surgery in a rural setting included earlier career-stage (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: [0.70-0.91]; p < 0.001) and sub-specialization status (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: [0.36-0.45]; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Existing rural-urban disparities in musculoskeletal healthcare access have persisted over the past decade and could worsen. Future research should investigate the effects of orthopaedic workforce shortages on travel times, patient cost burden, and disease specific outcomes. Level of Evidence: IV.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Is Associated with Improved Survival for Stage III Colon Cancer When Initiated Beyond 8 Weeks.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) within 6-8 weeks of surgical resection for patients with stage III colon cancer. However, postoperative complications or prolonged surgical recovery may affect the receipt of AC. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of AC for patients with prolonged postoperative recovery. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database (2010-2018) for patients with resected stage III colon cancer. Patients were categorized as having either normal or prolonged length of stay (PLOS: >7 days, 75th percentile). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with overall survival and receipt of AC. RESULTS: Of the 113,387 patients included, 30,196 (26.6%) experienced PLOS. Of the 88,115 (77.7%) patients who received AC, 22,707 (25.8%) initiated AC more than 8 weeks after surgery. Patients with PLOS were less likely to receive AC (71.5% vs. 80.0%, OR: 0.72, 95%CI=0.70-0.75) and displayed inferior survival (75 vs. 116 months, HR: 1.39, 95%CI=1.36-1.43). Receipt of AC was also associated with patient factors such as high socioeconomic status, private insurance, and White race (p<0.05 for all). AC within and after 8 weeks of surgery was associated with improved survival for patients with both normal LOS and PLOS (normal LOS: <8 weeks HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.54-0.59, >8 weeks HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.65-0.71; PLOS: <8 weeks HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.48-0.54, >8 weeks HR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.60-0.67). AC was associated with significantly improved survival if initiated up to 15 weeks postoperatively (normal LOS: HR: 0.72, 95%CI=0.61-0.85; PLOS: HR: 0.75, 95%CI=0.62-0.90), and very few patients (<3.0%) initiated AC beyond this time. CONCLUSION: Receipt of AC for stage III colon cancer may be affected by surgical complications or otherwise prolonged recovery. Timely and even delayed AC (>8 weeks) are both associated with improved overall survival. These findings highlight the importance of delivering guideline-based systemic therapies, even after complicated surgical recovery.

Why the Treatment Sequence Matters: Interplay Between Chemotherapy Cycles Received, Cumulative Dose Intensity, and Survival in Resected Early-stage Pancreas Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To define the optimal threshold of perioperative chemotherapy completion and relative dose intensity (RDI) for patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). BACKGROUND: Many patients who undergo pancreatectomy for PDAC fail to initiate or complete recommended perioperative chemotherapy. The association between the amount of perioperative chemotherapy received and overall survival (OS) is not well-defined. METHODS: Single-institution analysis of 225 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for stage I/II PDAC (2010-2021). Associations between OS, chemotherapy cycles completed, and RDI were analyzed. RESULTS: Regardless of treatment sequence, completion of ≥67% of recommended cycles was associated with improved OS compared with no chemotherapy [median OS: 34.5 vs 18.1 months; hazard ratio (HR): 0.43; 95% CI: 0.25-0.74] and <67% of cycles (median OS: 17.9 months; HR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.24-0.64). A near-linear relationship existed between cycles completed and the RDI received (ß = 0.82). A median RDI of 56% corresponded to the completion of 67% of cycles. Receipt of ≥56% RDI was associated with improved OS compared with no chemotherapy (median OS: 35.5 vs 18.1 months; HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23-0.84) and <56% RDI (median OS: 27.2 months; HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.20-0.96). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with increased odds of receiving ≥67% of recommended cycles (odds ratio: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.45-6.26) and ≥56% RDI (odds ratio: 4.47; 95% CI: 1.72-12.50). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PDAC who received ≥67% of recommended chemotherapy cycles or ≥56% cumulative RDI had improved OS. Neoadjuvant therapy was associated with increased odds of receiving ≥67% of cycles and ≥56% cumulative RDI and should be considered in all patients with resectable PDAC.

Discordance Between Conventional and Detailed Lymph Node Analysis in Resected, Node-negative Pancreatic or Ampullary Adenocarcinomas and Association With Adverse Survival Outcomes: A Single-institution Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of occult metastases (OM) in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or ampullary adenocarcinoma (AA) discovered on detailed pathologic examination on lymph nodes (LNs) previously considered negative by conventional analysis and to examine the association between OM and overall survival (OS). BACKGROUND: Poor prognosis of patients with no pathologic evidence of LN metastases may be due to OM that is not detected on conventional LN analysis. METHODS: Patients with LN-negative resected PDAC or AA (2010-2020) were identified from our institutional database. Original hematoxylin and eosin ( H and E ) slides were reanalyzed. In addition, selected LN were analyzed by H and E (3 sections/LN) and pan-cytokeratin (AE1-AE3/PCK26) immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A total of 598 LNs from 74 LN-negative patients were reexamined. Nineteen patients (25.7%) had OM; 9 (47.4%) were found with immunohistochemistry but not on H and E . The number of positive LNs ranged from 1 to 3. No clinicodemographic, pathologic, or treatment-related factors were associated with OM. On conventional LN analysis, 3/19 patients (15.8%) had stage IA, 9/34 (26.5%) had stage IB, and 7/19 (36.8%) had stage IIA. On detailed LN analysis, 11/19 patients (57.9%) were upstaged to IIB, whereas 8/19 (42.1%) had isolated tumor cells only (N0i+). OM was associated with shorter OS (median OS: 22.3 vs 50.5 months; hazard ratio=3.95, 95% CI: 1.58-9.86). CONCLUSIONS: There is a 26% discordance rate between conventional and detailed LN pathologic analysis in resected PDAC and AA. The presence of OM is associated with shorter OS.

Do Patients Reporting Fractures Experience Food Insecurity More Frequently Than the General Population?

BACKGROUND: The economic burden of traumatic injuries forces families into difficult tradeoffs between healthcare and nutrition, particularly among those with a low income. However, the epidemiology of food insecurity among individuals reporting having experienced fractures is not well understood. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do individuals in the National Health Interview Survey reporting having experienced fractures also report food insecurity more frequently than individuals in the general population? (2) Are specific factors associated with a higher risk of food insecurity in patients with fractures? METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the National Health Interview Survey was conducted to identify patients who reported a fracture within 3 months before survey completion. The National Health Interview Survey is an annual serial, cross-sectional survey administered by the United States Centers for Disease Control, involving approximately 90,000 individuals across 35,000 American households. The survey is designed to be generalizable to the civilian, noninstitutionalized United States population and is therefore well suited to evaluate longitudinal trends in physical, economic, and psychosocial health factors nationwide. We analyzed data from 2011 to 2017 and identified 1399 individuals who reported sustaining a fracture during the 3 months preceding their survey response. Among these patients, 27% (384 of 1399) were older than 65 years, 77% (1074) were White, 57% (796) were women, and 14% (191) were uninsured. A raw score compiled from 10 food security questions developed by the United States Department of Agriculture was used to determine the odds of 30-day food insecurity for each patient. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with food insecurity among patients reporting fractures . In the overall sample of National Health Interview Survey respondents, approximately 0.6% (1399 of 239,168) reported a fracture. RESULTS: Overall, 17% (241 of 1399) of individuals reporting broken bones or fractures in the National Health Interview Survey also reported food insecurity. Individuals reporting fractures were more likely to report food insecurity if they also were aged between 45 and 64 years (adjusted odds ratio 4.0 [95% confidence interval 2.1 to 7.6]; p < 0.001), had a household income below USD 49,716 (200% of the federal poverty level) per year (adjusted OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.9 to 5.1]; p < 0.001), were current tobacco smokers (adjusted OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.6 to 5.1]; p < 0.001), and were of Black race (adjusted OR 1.9 [95% CI 1.1 to 3.4]; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Among patients with fractures, food insecurity screening and routine nutritional assessments may help to direct financially vulnerable patients toward available community resources. Such screening programs may improve adherence to nutritional recommendations in the trauma recovery period and improve the physiologic environment for adequate soft tissue and bone healing. Future research may benefit from the inclusion of clinical nutritional data, a broader representation of high-energy injuries, and a prospective study design to evaluate cost-efficient avenues for food insecurity interventions in the context of locally available social services networks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Impact of social disadvantage among total knee arthroplasty places of service on procedural volume: a nationwide Medicare analysis.

INTRODUCTION: As recent analyses have indicated that low-volume hospitals experience higher rates of complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), it remains important to evaluate how area deprivation index (ADI) of hospitals impacts the quantity of TKA performed. Our analysis sought to evaluate how the ADI of orthopedic surgeon's place of service influences TKA utilization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File (MPUP-PUF) was queried to identify claims between 2013 and 2019 associated with Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code 27447 (TKA). The MPUP-PUF file was linked with publicly available ADI information as well as information regarding each provider's practice location. The Mann-Kendall trend test was used to analyze significant differences in TKA volume between ADI quintiles and differences in TKA volume overall between the years 2013 and 2019. An adjusted multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how ADI, and practice-specific characteristics, influenced TKA utilization volume. RESULTS: When isolating by ADI quintiles, no significant changes in TKA volume were demonstrated for Quintile 4 (Kendall's τ = 0.524; p = 0.13) and Quintile 5 (Kendall's τ = 0.524; p = 0.13) between 2013 and 2019. However, a significant increase in TKA volume over the study period was observed in Quintile 1 (Kendall's τ = 0.714 p = 0.034), Quintile 2 (Kendall's τ = 0.714 p = 0.034), and Quintile 3 (Kendall's τ = 0.905 p = 0.007). The adjusted multivariable linear regression model demonstrated that each increase in ADI quintile was associated with significantly lower TKA utilization (ß-estimate - 1.16; 95% CI - 2.04 to - 0.29; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that resource deprivation contributes to disparities in TKA utilization. With the ongoing recognition of how social and neighborhood-level deprivation may influence access to end-stage osteoarthritis care and related perioperative outcomes, the present study serves to encourage continued efforts at ensuring equity in orthopedic care.

Use of intraoperative technology in total knee arthroplasty is not associated with reductions in postoperative pain.

PURPOSE: Our systematic review and meta-analysis sought to assess how technology-assistance impacts (1) post-operative pain and (2) opioid use in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Four online databases were queried for studies published up to October 2021 that reported on pain and opioid usage between technology-assisted and manual TKA (mTKA) patients. Mantel-Haenszel (M-H) models were utilized to calculate pooled mean difference (MDs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted to isolate robotic-arm assisted (RAA) and computed-assisted navigation (CAN) cohorts. Risk of bias was assessed for all included non-randomized studies with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) tool. For the randomized control trials included in our study, the Detsky scale was applied. RESULTS: Our analysis included 31 studies, reporting on a total of 761,300 TKAs (mTKA: n = 753,554; Computer-Assisted Navigation (CAN): n = 1,309; Robotic-Arm Assisted (RAA): n = 6437). No differences were demonstrated when evaluating WOMAC (MD: 0.00, 95% CI - 0.69 to 0.69; p = 1.00), KSS (MD: 0.01, 95% CI - 1.46 to 1.49; p = 0.99), KOOS (MD - 2.91, 95% CI - 6.17 to 0.34; p = 0.08), and VAS (MD - 0.54, 95% CI - 1.01 to - 0.007; p = 0.02) pain scores between cohorts. There was mixed evidence regarding how opioid consumption differed between TKA techniques. CONCLUSION: The present analysis demonstrated no difference in terms of pain across a variety of utilized patient-reported pain measurements. However, there were mixed results regarding how opioid consumption varied between manual and technology-assisted cohorts, particularly in the immediate post-operative period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Do Americans Lacking a Local Orthopaedic Surgeon Have Adequate Broadband for Telehealth?

BACKGROUND: Although telehealth holds promise in expanding access to orthopaedic surgical care, high-speed internet connectivity remains a major limiting factor for many communities. Despite persistent federal efforts to study and address the health information technology needs of patients, there is limited information regarding the current high-speed internet landscape as it relates to access to orthopaedic surgical care. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is the distribution of practicing orthopaedic surgeons in the United States relative to the presence of broadband internet access? (2) What geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors are associated with the absence of high-speed internet and access to a local orthopaedic surgeon? METHODS: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Mapping Broadband in America interactive tool was used to determine the proportion of county residents with access to broadband-speed internet for all 3141 US counties. Data regarding the geographic distribution of orthopaedic surgeons and county-level characteristics were obtained from the 2015 Physician Compare National Downloadable File and the Area Health Resource File, respectively. The FCC mapping broadband public use files are considered the most comprehensive datasets describing high-speed internet infrastructure within the United States. The year 2015 represents the most recently available FCC data for which county-level broadband penetration estimates are available. Third-party audits of the FCC data have shown that broadband expansion has been slow over the past decade and that many large improvements have been driven by changes in the reporting methodology. Therefore, we believe the 2015 FCC data still hold relevance. The primary outcome measure was the simultaneous absence of at least 50% broadband penetration and at least one orthopaedic surgeon practicing in county limits. Statistical analyses using Kruskal-Wallis tests and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess for factors associated with inaccessibility to orthopaedic telehealth. All statistical tests were two-sided with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In 2015, 14% (448 of 3141) of counties were considered "low access" in that they both had no orthopaedic surgeons and possessed less than 50% broadband access. A total of 4,660,559 people lived within these low-access counties, representing approximately 1.4% (4.6 million of 320.7 million) of the US population. After controlling for potential confounding variables, such as the age, sex, income level, and educational attainment, lower population density per square mile (OR 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90 to 0.94]; p < 0.01), a lower number of primary care physicians per 100,000 (OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81 to 0.97]; p < 0.01), a higher unemployment level (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.2 to 1.4]; p < 0.01), and greater number preventable hospital stays per 100,000 (OR 1.01 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.02]; p < 0.01) were associated with increased odds of being a low-access county (though the effect size of the finding was small for population density and number of primary care physicians). Stated another way, each additional person per square mile was associated with an 8% (95% CI 6% to 10%; p < 0.01) decrease in the odds of being a low-access county, and each additional percentage point of unemployment was associated with a 30% (95% CI 20% to 40%) increase in the odds of being a low-access county. CONCLUSION: Despite the potential for telehealth programs to improve the delivery of high-quality orthopaedic surgical care, broadband internet access remains a major barrier to implementation. Until targeted investments are made to expand broadband infrastructure across the country, health systems, policymakers, and surgeon leaders must capitalize on existing federal subsidy programs, such as the lifeline or affordability connectivity initiatives, to reach unemployed patients living in economically depressed regions. The incorporation of internet access questions into clinic-based social determinants screening may facilitate the development of alternative follow-up protocols for patients unable to participate in synchronous videoconferencing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Some orthopaedic patients lack the broadband capacity necessary for telehealth visits, in which case surgeons may pursue alternative methods of follow-up such as mobile phone-based surveillance of postoperative wounds, surgical sites, and clinical symptoms.

A stromal Integrated Stress Response activates perivascular cancer-associated fibroblasts to drive angiogenesis and tumour progression.

Bidirectional signalling between the tumour and stroma shapes tumour aggressiveness and metastasis. ATF4 is a major effector of the Integrated Stress Response, a homeostatic mechanism that couples cell growth and survival to bioenergetic demands. Using conditional knockout ATF4 mice, we show that global, or fibroblast-specific loss of host ATF4, results in deficient vascularization and a pronounced growth delay of syngeneic melanoma and pancreatic tumours. Single-cell transcriptomics of tumours grown in Atf4Δ/Δ mice uncovered a reduction in activation markers in perivascular cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Atf4Δ/Δ fibroblasts displayed significant defects in collagen biosynthesis and deposition and a reduced ability to support angiogenesis. Mechanistically, ATF4 regulates the expression of the Col1a1 gene and levels of glycine and proline, the major amino acids of collagen. Analyses of human melanoma and pancreatic tumours revealed a strong correlation between ATF4 and collagen levels. Our findings establish stromal ATF4 as a key driver of CAF functionality, malignant progression and metastasis.