Evaluation of Inequities in Cancer Treatment Delay or Discontinuation Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Importance: There is a disproportionately greater burden of COVID-19 among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black individuals, who also experience poorer cancer outcomes. Understanding individual-level and area-level factors contributing to inequities at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer is critical. Objective: To evaluate associations of individual-level and area-level social determinants of health (SDOH) with delayed or discontinued cancer treatment following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, registry-based cohort study used data from 4768 patients receiving cancer care who had positive test results for SARS-CoV-2 and were enrolled in the American Society for Clinical Oncology COVID-19 Registry. Data were collected from April 1, 2020, to September 26, 2022. Exposures: Race and ethnicity, sex, age, and area-level SDOH based on zip codes of residence at the time of cancer diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Delayed (≥14 days) or discontinued cancer treatment (any cancer treatment, surgery, pharmacotherapy, or radiotherapy) and time (in days) to restart pharmacotherapy. Results: A total of 4768 patients (2756 women [57.8%]; 1558 [32.7%] aged ≥70 years at diagnosis) were included in the analysis. There were 630 Hispanic (13.2%), 196 non-Hispanic Asian American or Pacific Islander (4.1%), 568 non-Hispanic Black (11.9%), and 3173 non-Hispanic White individuals (66.5%). Compared with non-Hispanic White individuals, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black individuals were more likely to experience a delay of at least 14 days or discontinuation of any treatment and drug-based treatment; only estimates for non-Hispanic Black individuals were statistically significant, with correction for multiple comparisons (risk ratios [RRs], 1.35 [95% CI, 1.22-1.49] and 1.37 [95% CI, 1.23-1.52], respectively). Area-level SDOH (eg, geography, proportion of residents without health insurance or with only a high school education, lower median household income) were associated with delayed or discontinued treatment. In multivariable Cox proportinal hazards regression models, estimates suggested that Hispanic (hazard ratio [HR], 0.87 [95% CI, 0.71-1.05]), non-Hispanic Asian American or Pacific Islander (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.46-1.35]), and non-Hispanic Black individuals (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.67-0.97]) experienced longer delays to restarting pharmacotherapy compared with non-Hispanic White individuals. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that race and ethnicity and area-level SDOH were associated with delayed or discontinued cancer treatment and longer delays to the restart of drug-based therapies following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Such treatment delays could exacerbate persistent cancer survival inequities in the United States.

COVID-19 perceptions, impacts, and experiences: a cross-sectional analysis among New Jersey cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors are particularly vulnerable to adverse COVID-19-related outcomes, but limited data exist on perceptions about the pandemic and related experiences in this group. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis of 494 survivors of genitourinary, breast, gynecologic, colorectal, lung, melanoma, or thyroid cancer, from a larger study of cancer survivors in New Jersey, we assessed perceptions about COVID-19 threat, impacts, and experiences using three validated instruments. Responses were coded on a 7-point Likert scale, and subscales were averaged across included items, with higher scores indicating greater perceptions of COVID-19 threat and greater impacts and experiences because of the pandemic. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine factors associated with higher scores, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: In general, cancer survivors reported moderate perceived COVID-19 threat (3 items, mean score = 3.71 ± 1.97), minimal COVID-19-related impacts (6 items, mean score = 2.23 ± 1.34), and COVID-19-related experiences (7 items, mean score = 2.17 ± 1.00). COVID-19 impact subscale scores varied little (mean subscale score range = 2.09 to 2.29), while COVID-19 experiences subscale scores were quite variable (mean subscale score range = 1.52 to 3.39). Asian American/Pacific Islander race, Black race, female sex, and having more cardiovascular and metabolic and other comorbidities were associated with higher scores on the perceived coronavirus threat questionnaire. Having completed the COVID-19 questionnaires earlier in the pandemic, younger age, American/Pacific Islander race, Hispanic ethnicity, and having more comorbidities were associated with higher scores on the COVID-19 impact questionnaire. Younger age, racial minority status, and having more cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities were associated with higher scores on the COVID-19 experience questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Among cancer survivors in New Jersey-a state that experienced high rates of COVID-19 infection-sociodemographic and health-related factors (e.g., race and ethnicity, sex, and multimorbidity) correlate with greater perceptions of COVID-19 threat, impacts, and experiences. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Studies are needed to examine the influence of vaccination status on COVID-19 perceptions and identify inequities in clinical outcomes due to pandemic-related disruptions to cancer care.