Treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in relation to survival in the U.S. Military Health System.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer has a high case fatality and relatively short survival after diagnosis. Treatment is paramount to improving survival, but studies on the effects of standard treatment by surgery or chemotherapy on survival in U.S. healthcare settings is limited. Further, variability in access to care may impact treatment and outcomes for patients. We aimed to assess the relationship between standard treatment(s) and survival of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a population with access to comprehensive healthcare. METHODS: We used the Military Cancer Epidemiology (MilCanEpi) database, which includes data from the Department of Defense cancer registry and medical encounter data from the Military Health System (MHS), to study a cohort of 1408 men and women who were diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma between 1998 and 2014. Treatment with surgery or chemotherapy in relation to overall survival was examined in multivariable time-dependent Cox regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 75 % of 441 patients with early-stage and 51 % of 967 patients with late-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma received treatment. In early-stage disease, surgery alone or surgery with chemotherapy were both associated with statistically significant 52 % reduced risks of death, but chemotherapy alone was not. In late-stage disease, surgery alone, chemotherapy alone, or both surgery and chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of death by 42 %, 25 %, and 52 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings from the MHS demonstrate improved survival after treatment with surgery or surgery with chemotherapy for early- or late-stage pancreatic cancer and after chemotherapy for late-stage pancreatic cancer. In the era of immunotherapy and personalized medicine, further research on treatment and survival of pancreatic cancer in observational settings is needed.

Characteristics Associated With Survival in Surgically Nonresected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in the Military Health System.

OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages with high-case fatality. Many tumors are not surgically resectable. We aimed to identify features associated with survival in patients with surgically nonresected pancreatic cancer in the Military Health System. METHODS: We used the Military Cancer Epidemiology database to identify the Department of Defense beneficiaries aged 18 and older diagnosed with a primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma between January 1998 and December 2014 who did not receive oncologic surgery as treatment. We used Cox Proportional Hazard regression with stepwise procedures to select the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics related to 2-year overall survival, expressed as adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Among 1148 patients with surgically nonresected pancreatic cancer, sex, race-ethnicity, marital status, and socioeconomic indicators were not selected in association with survival. A higher comorbidity count (aHR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06-1.59 for 5 vs. 0), jaundice at diagnosis (aHR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.33-1.85 vs. no), tumor grade G3 or G4 (aHR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05-1.67 vs. G1/G2), tumor location in pancreas tail (aHR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.22-1.83 vs. head) or body (aHR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04-1.62 vs. head), and metastases were associated with survival. Patients receiving chemotherapy (aHR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.57-0.76) had better survival compared with no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In a comprehensive health system, sociodemographic characteristics were not related to survival in surgically nonresected pancreatic cancer. This implicates access to care in reducing survival disparities in advanced pancreatic cancer and emphasizes the importance of treating patients based on clinical features.

MilCanEpi: Increased Capability for Cancer Care Research in the Department of Defense.

The Military Health System (MHS) of the US Department of Defense (DoD) provides comprehensive medical care to over nine million beneficiaries, including active-duty members, reservists, activated National Guard, military retirees, and their family members. The MHS generates an extensive database containing administrative claims and medical encounter data, while the DoD also maintains a cancer registry that collects information about the occurrence of cancer among its beneficiaries who receive care at military treatment facilities. Collating data from the two sources diminishes the limitations of using registry or medical claims data alone for cancer research and extends their usage. To facilitate cancer research using the unique military health resources, a computer interface linking the two databases has been developed, called Military Cancer Epidemiology, or MilCanEpi. The intent of this article is to provide an overview of the MilCanEpi data system, describing its components, structure, potential uses, and limitations.

Chemotherapy Treatment Costs and Clinical Outcomes of Colon Cancer in the U.S. Military Health System's Direct and Private Sector Care Settings.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying low-value cancer care may be an important step in containing costs associated with treatment. Low-value care occurs when the medical services, tests, or treatments rendered do not result in clinical benefit. These may be impacted by care setting and patients' access to care and health insurance. We aimed to study chemotherapy treatment and the cost paid by the Department of Defense (DoD) for treatment in relation to clinical outcomes among patients with colon cancer treated within the U.S. Military Health System's direct and private sector care settings to better understand the value of cancer care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of patients aged 18 to 64 years with primary colon cancer diagnosed between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2014, were identified in the Military Cancer Epidemiology database. Multivariable time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the relationship between chemotherapy treatment and the cost paid by the DoD (in quartiles, Q) and the outcomes of cancer progression, cancer recurrence, and all-cause death modeled as adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The Military Cancer Epidemiology data were approved for research by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences' Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: The study included 673 patients using direct care and 431 patients using private sector care. The median per patient chemotherapy costs in direct care ($111,202) were lower than in private sector care ($350,283). In direct care, higher chemotherapy costs were associated with an increased risk of any outcome but not with all-cause death. In private sector care, higher chemotherapy costs were associated with a higher risk of any outcome and with all-cause death (aHR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.20-5.92 for Q4 vs. Q1). CONCLUSIONS: The findings in the private sector may indicate low-value care in terms of the cost paid by the DoD for chemotherapy treatment and achieving desirable survival outcomes for patients with colon cancer in civilian health care. Comprehensive evaluations of value-based care among patients treated for other tumor types may be warranted.

Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention to the Military Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes and obesity pose a significant burden for the U.S. military beneficiary population, creating a great need to provide evidence-based diabetes and obesity prevention services for military personnel, retirees, and their dependents. Despite increasing dissemination of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention nationwide, formal evaluation of implementation of this highly successful program is limited in the military setting. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate delivery of a direct adaptation of a 1-year DPP lifestyle intervention at a U.S. Air Force medical facility, Wright-Patterson Medical Center (WPMC), to determine the feasibility of delivery of the program in a group of at-risk active duty military, retirees, and family members, as well as assess effectiveness in improving weight and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pre/post study design was utilized to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of the DPP Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB), an up-to-date, 22-session direct adaptation of the DPP curriculum, at WPMC. Participants chose to complete the 1-year program either in coach-led face-to-face groups or via DVD with weekly telephonic coach contact. The study was approved by the University of Pittsburgh and WPMC Institutional Review Boards. RESULTS: A total of 99 individuals enrolled in the study, with 83 (84%) and 77 (78%) completing 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, respectively. The mean age of participants at baseline was 57 (range 20-85 years), with 63% being female. The group was comprised of individuals who were non-Hispanic White (73.7%), non-Hispanic Black (18.2%), and other race or Hispanic ethnicity (8.1%). Within this group, there were 10 active duty military, 37 retirees, and 52 family members. The DPP-GLB program was shown to be feasible to implement in this military healthcare setting as demonstrated by the high engagement over the course of the year-long program. Significant improvements were shown in the two main behavioral goals: mean weight (-12.8 lbs, -6.3%, P < .001) and mean physical activity (PA) (+18.9 Met-hrs/wk, P < .001). In addition, significant improvements in other diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting insulin, diastolic blood pressure, and waist circumference were noted, as well as improvement in health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the DPP-GLB program delivered via face-to-face groups or DVD was feasible and effective in improving weight, PA levels, and diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in this group of active and retired military personnel and their family members. The program was well received by the program participants as well as the WPMC team. These findings offer a model for provision of the DPP-GLB program throughout the Military Health System.

Racial-Ethnic Comparison of Guideline-Adherent Gynecologic Cancer Care in an Equal-Access System.

OBJECTIVE: To compare receipt of National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guideline-adherent treatment for gynecologic cancers, inclusive of uterine, cervical, and ovarian cancer, between non-Hispanic White women and racial-ethnic minority women in the equal-access Military Health System. METHODS: We accessed MilCanEpi, which links data from the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and Military Health System Data Repository administrative claims data, to identify a cohort of women aged 18-79 years who were diagnosed with uterine, cervical, or ovarian cancer between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2014. Information on tumor stage, grade, and histology was used to determine which treatment(s) (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) was indicated for each patient according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines during the period of the data (1998-2014). We compared non-Hispanic Black, Asian, and Hispanic women with non-Hispanic White women in their likelihood to receive guideline-adherent treatment using multivariable logistic regression models given as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: The study included 3,354 women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer of whom 68.7% were non-Hispanic White, 15.6% Asian, 9.0% non-Hispanic Black, and 6.7% Hispanic. Overall, 77.8% of patients received guideline-adherent treatment (79.1% non-Hispanic White, 75.9% Asian, 69.3% non-Hispanic Black, and 80.5% Hispanic). Guideline-adherent treatment was similar in Asian compared with non-Hispanic White patients (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 0.84-1.48) or Hispanic compared with non-Hispanic White women (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 0.86-1.96). Non-Hispanic Black patients were marginally less likely to receive guideline-adherent treatment compared with non-Hispanic White women (aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53-1.00, P=.011) and significantly less likely to receive guideline-adherent treatment than either Asian (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.97) or Hispanic patients (aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.92). CONCLUSION: Racial-ethnic differences in guideline-adherent care among patients in the equal-access Military Health System suggest factors other than access to care contributed to the observed disparities.

Effects of a personal trainer-led exercise intervention on physical activity, physical function, and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Exercise is important to address physical and emotional effects of breast cancer treatment. This study examines effects of a personal trainer led exercise intervention on physical activity levels, physical function and quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Women post active breast cancer treatment were recruited from 2015 to 2017, randomized to immediate exercise or wait-list control, and received three personal training sessions for up to 30 weeks. Physical activity and function were assessed by pedometer, and tests of endurance, strength, and flexibility. Self-reported physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy, and QoL were also assessed. RESULTS: 60 women were randomized to immediate intervention (n = 31) or wait-list control (n = 29). Subjects were aged (mean ± SD) 56 ± 10 years. On the endurance test, the exercise group significantly improved (increase of 18 ± 20 steps vs control 9 ± 12 steps) (p = 0.036). On the strength test, the exercise group significantly improved (increase of 4 ± 3 curls vs control 1 ± 3 curls) (p = 0.002). After intervention, change (mean ∆ ± SD) in the FACT-ES physical well-being subscale score was 1 ± 2 in the exercise group and - 1 ± 2 in the control group (p = 0.023). Improvement in Self-efficacy and Physical Activity (SEPA) score was significant with a change (mean ∆ ± SD) of 2 ± 5 for exercise vs 0 ± 5 for control (p = 0.047). The number of steps/day, back scratch test, weight, and self-reported physical activity did not significantly improve with intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention yielded significant improvements in endurance and strength but not physical activity or quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Future efforts to explore feasible ways to support patient's physical activity efforts need to be undertaken.

Leisure Sedentary Behavior Levels and Meeting Program Goals in a Community Lifestyle Intervention for Diabetes Prevention.

BACKGROUND: The importance of leisure sedentary behavior (LSB) change in diabetes prevention efforts is not well known. This study examines the relationships between changes in self-reported LSB and the primary intervention goals (weight and moderate-intensity to vigorous-intensity physical activity [MVPA]) during a community-based translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (the Group Lifestyle Balance Program). METHODS: A total of 322 adults at risk for type 2 diabetes were recruited from 3 community centers, a worksite, and military site. Community and worksite participants were randomized to immediate or delayed-delivery (control) intervention. All military site participants (n = 99) received immediate intervention. Logistic and linear generalized estimating equations were used to determine associations between LSB changes and weight-related outcomes and MVPA. RESULTS: Results were obtained for 259 (80.4%) participants. The LSB decreased after 6 and 12 months (mean [95% confidence interval]: -25.7 [-38.6 to -12.8] and -16.1 [-28.2 to -3.9] min/d; both P < .05). Each 20-minute reduction in LSB was associated with a 5% increase in odds of meeting the weight-loss goal (6 mo: odds ratio = 1.05 [1.002 to 1.102]; P = .042; adjusted model including MVPA), but LSB was not related to changes in reported MVPA minutes or MVPA goal achievement. CONCLUSION: Within the context of existing lifestyle intervention programs, reducing sedentary behavior has the potential to contribute to weight loss separately from reported MVPA improvement.

Brain cancer incidence: a comparison of active-duty military and general populations.

BACKGROUND: In the USA, brain cancer disproportionately affects young adults. The US military has a younger age structure than the general population and may have differential exposures related to brain cancer. This study aimed to compare the incidence rates of brain cancer in the active-duty military and general populations to provide clues for future etiologic research. The rates between military service branches were also compared. METHODS: The data for this study were from the Department of Defense's Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 (SEER-9) registries. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates of malignant neuroepithelial brain cancer among adults 20-54 years of age from 1990-2013 were calculated and compared between the two populations, given as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The age and sex-adjusted incidence rate for malignant neuroepithelial brain cancer was significantly lower in the active-duty population than in the US general population (IRR = 0.62, 95% CI, 0.56-0.68). The reduced incidence rate in the active-duty population was observed in men, all races, individuals 20-44 of age, and for all histological subtypes and time periods assessed. There were no significant differences in rates between the military service branches. CONCLUSION: The incidence rates of neuroepithelial brain cancer were lower in the active-duty military population than the US general population. This study highlights the need for more research to enhance our understanding of variations in brain cancer incidence between these two populations.

Consolidation of Cancer Registry and Administrative Claims Data on Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in the US Military Health System.

PURPOSE: Linked cancer registry and medical claims data have increased the capacity for cancer research. However, few efforts have described methods to select information between data sources, which may affect data use. We developed a systematic process to evaluate and consolidate cancer diagnosis and treatment information between the linked Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry (CCR) and Military Health System Data Repository (MDR) administrative claims database, called Military Cancer Epidemiology Data System (MilCanEpi). METHODS: MilCanEpi contains information on cancer diagnosis and treatment of patients receiving care from 1998 to 2014. We used an iterative process guided by knowledge of data features, current literature, and logical comparisons between the CCR and MDR data to evaluate and consolidate cancer diagnosis and treatment received (yes or no) and their dates. We applied the processes to breast cancer data as an example. Agreement between diagnosis and treatment dates in the two data sources was evaluated using Cohen's κ with 95% CIs. RESULTS: In MilCanEpi, we identified 15,965 patients with a breast cancer diagnosis and 15,145 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery; 97.9% and 84.1% of patients had records in both CCR and MDR for diagnosis and surgery, respectively. Exact agreement was 13.7% for diagnosis dates (Cohen's κ = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.14) and 68.9% for surgery dates (Cohen's κ = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.70) between the two data sources. After applying systematic processes, 98.1% of patients with a breast cancer diagnosis and 99.7% of patients with surgery had information selected for analytic data sets. CONCLUSION: The developed processes resulted in high consolidation rates of breast cancer data in MilCanEpi and may serve as a data selection template for other tumor sites and linked data sources.

Racial Comparisons in Timeliness of Colon Cancer Treatment in an Equal-Access Health System.

BACKGROUND: Non-Hispanic black (NHB) adults with cancer may have longer time-to-treatment than non-Hispanic whites (NHW) in the United States. Unequal access to medical care may partially account for this racial disparity. This study aimed to investigate whether there were racial differences in time-to-treatment and in treatment delays for patients diagnosed with colon cancer in the equal-access Military Health System (MHS). METHODS: Patients age 18-79 years diagnosed with colon adenocarcinoma between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2014, were identified in the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and the MHS Data Repository-linked databases. Median time-to-treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) and 95% confidence intervals were compared between NHBs and NHWs in multivariable quantile regression models. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of receiving delayed treatment defined by guidelines for NHBs relative to NHWs were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients (n = 3067) had a mean age at diagnosis of 58.4 (12.2) years and the racial distribution was 76.7% NHW and 23.3% NHB. Median adjusted time-to-treatment was similar for NHB compared to NHW patients. The likelihood of receiving delayed treatment was similar between NHB and NHW patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the MHS, there was no evidence of treatment delays for NHBs compared to NHWs, suggesting the role of equal access to medical care and insurance coverage in reducing racial disparities in colon cancer treatment.

Factors related to re-excision procedures following primary breast-conserving surgery for women with breast cancer in the U.S. Military Health System.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Re-excision surgery is undertaken to obtain clear margins after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for localized breast cancer. This study examines patient and tumor characteristics related to re-excision surgery in the universal-access Military Health System (MHS). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed stage I-III breast cancer between 1998 and 2014 in the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository-linked databases who received primary BCS. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression methods identified characteristics associated with re-excision surgery (lumpectomy and mastectomy) and conversion to mastectomy, given as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of 7637 women receiving BCS, 26.3% had a re-excision and 9.9% converted to mastectomy. Tumor location, larger tumor size (≥4 cm), and regional lymph node involvement were associated with a greater likelihood of re-excision and mastectomy conversion. Pathology before BCS (AOR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.35, 0.44 for re-excision) and neoadjuvant treatment (AOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36, 0.69 for re-excision) were associated with a decreased likelihood of these outcomes. Additionally, age, tumor histology, and military-specific variables were associated with mastectomy conversion. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive preoperative workup, including tumor pathology, may better inform surgical decision-making and reduce re-excision rates.

Contribution Of Care Source To Cancer Treatment Cost Variation In The US Military Health System.

The US Military Health System (MHS) provides universal access to health care for more than nine million eligible beneficiaries through direct care in military treatment facilities or purchased care in civilian facilities. Using information from linked cancer registry and administrative databases, we examined how care source contributed to cancer treatment cost variation in the MHS for patients ages 18-64 who were diagnosed with colon, female breast, or prostate cancer in the period 2003-14. After accounting for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics, we found the independent contribution of care source to total variation in cost to be 8 percent, 12 percent, and 2 percent for colon, breast, and prostate cancer treatment, respectively. About 20-50 percent of the total cost variance remained unexplained and may be related to organizational and administrative factors.

Evaluation of Surgical Disparities Between African American and European American Women Treated for Breast Cancer Within an Equal-Access Military Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Survival disparities between African American women (AAW) and European American women (EAW) with invasive breast cancer may be attributable, in part, to access to or quality of medical care. In this study, we evaluated surgical disparities between AAW and EAW treated within an equal-access military treatment facility (MTF). METHODS: All AAW (N = 271) and EAW (N = 628) with Stage I-III breast cancer who had their initial diagnosis performed at Murtha Cancer Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center were identified. Differences in surgical interval (time between diagnosis and definitive breast surgery) and surgical procedures were evaluated using χ2 and Student t-tests while survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and log-rank tests. A P value < 0.05 was used to define significance. RESULTS: Surgical intervals did not differ significantly between populations with an average of 36.3 days in AAW and 33.9 days in EAW. Frequency of the percentage of women undergoing reexcision, mastectomy, and prophylactic removal of the contralateral breast did not differ significantly between populations. Likewise, frequency of sentinel lymph node biopsy and 5-year survival were not significantly different between AAW compared to EAW. DISCUSSION: Surgical intervals and procedures were similar between AAW and EAW treated within an equal-access MTF. These data demonstrate that the availability of quality surgical care to all patients with stage I-III breast cancer may eliminate survival disparities between AAW and EAW, emphasizing the importance of equalizing access to breast care.

Time-to-surgery and overall survival after breast cancer diagnosis in a universal health system.

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether time between breast cancer diagnosis and surgery is associated with survival and whether this relationship is affected by access to care. We evaluated the association between time-to-surgery and overall survival among women in the universal-access U.S. Military Health System (MHS). METHODS: Women aged 18-79 who received surgical treatment for stages I-III breast cancer between 1998 and 2010 were identified in linked cancer registry and administrative databases with follow-up through 2015. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate risk of all-cause death associated with time-to-surgery intervals. RESULTS: The study included 9669 women with 93.1% survival during the study period. The hazards ratios (95% confidence intervals) of all-cause death associated with time-to-surgery were 1.15 (0.93, 1.42) for 0 days, 1.00 (reference) for 1-21 days, 0.97 (0.78, 1.21) for 22-35 days, and 1.30 (1.04, 1.61) for ≥ 36 days. The higher risk of mortality associated with time-to-surgery ≥ 36 days tended to be consistent when analyzed by surgery type, age at diagnosis, and tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: In the MHS, longer time-to-surgery for breast cancer was associated with poorer overall survival, suggesting the importance of timeliness in receiving surgical treatment for breast cancer in relation to overall survival.

Costs for Colon Cancer Treatment Comparing Benefit Types and Care Sources in the US Military Health System.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the USA, contributing largely to US healthcare spending. Provision of services (direct or purchased) and insurance benefit type may impact cost for cancer care. As a common cause of cancer in both men and women, we aim to compare colon cancer treatment costs between insurance benefit types and care sources in the US Military Health System (MHS) to better understand whether and to what extent these system factors impact cancer care costs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry records and MHS Data Repository administrative claims were used to identify MHS beneficiaries aged 18-64 who were diagnosed with primary colon adenocarcinoma and received treatment between 2003 and 2008. The data linkage was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Defense Health Agency, and the National Institutes of Health. Costs to the MHS for each claim related to cancer treatment were extracted from the linked data and adjusted to 2008 USD. We used quantile regression models to compare median cancer treatment costs between benefit types and care sources (direct, purchased, or both), adjusted for demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics. RESULTS: The median per capita (n = 801) costs for colon cancer care were $60,321 (interquartile range $24,625, $159,729) over a median follow-up of 1.7 years. The model-estimated treatment costs were similar between benefit types. Patients using direct care had significantly lower estimated median costs [$34,145 (standard error $4,326)] than patients using purchased care [$106,395 ($10,559)] or both care sources [$82,439 ($13,330)], controlled for patient demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics. Differences in cost by care source were noted for patients with later stage tumors and by treatment type. Relative costs were 2-3 times higher for purchased care compared to direct care for patients with late-stage tumors and for patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In the MHS, median cost for colon cancer treatment was lower in direct care compared to purchased care or patients using a combination of direct and purchased care. The variation in cancer treatment costs between care sources may be due to differences in treatment incentives or capabilities. Additional studies on cost differences between direct and purchased services are needed to understand how provision of care affects cancer treatment costs and to identify possible targets for cost reduction.

Cost-Efficiency of Breast Cancer Care in the US Military Health System: An Economic Evaluation in Direct and Purchased Care.

INTRODUCTION: With the rising costs of cancer care, it is critical to evaluate the overall cost-efficiency of care in real-world settings. In the United States, breast cancer accounts for the largest portion of cancer care spending due to high incidence and prevalence. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between breast cancer costs in the first 6 months after diagnosis and clinical outcomes by care source (direct or purchased) in the universal-access US Military Health System (MHS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and MHS Data Repository administrative records. The institutional review boards of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Defense Health Agency reviewed and approved the data linkage. We used the linked data to identify women aged 40-64 who were diagnosed with pathologically-confirmed breast cancer between 2003 and 2007 with at least 1 year of follow-up through December 31, 2008. We identified cancer treatment from administrative data using relevant medical procedure and billing codes and extracted costs paid by the MHS for each claim. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazards ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for recurrence or all-cause death as a function of breast cancer cost in tertiles. RESULTS: The median cost per patient (n = 2,490) for cancer care was $16,741 (interquartile range $9,268, $28,742) in the first 6 months after diagnosis. In direct care, women in the highest cost tertile had a lower risk for clinical outcomes compared to women in the lowest cost tertile (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35, 0.96). When outcomes were evaluated separately, there was a statistically significant inverse association between higher cost and risk of death (p-trend = 0.025) for women receiving direct care. These associations were not observed among women using purchased care or both care sources. CONCLUSIONS: In the MHS, higher breast cancer costs in the first 6 months after diagnosis were associated with lower risk for clinical outcomes in direct care, but not in purchased care. Organizational, institutional, and provider-level factors may contribute to the observed differences by care source. Replication of our findings in breast and other tumor sites may have implications for informing cancer care financing and value-based reimbursement policy.

Racial Differences in Time to Breast Cancer Surgery and Overall Survival in the US Military Health System.

Importance: Racial disparities in time to surgery (TTS) after a breast cancer diagnosis and whether these differences account for disparities in overall survival have been understudied in the US population. Objectives: To compare TTS in non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women with breast cancer and to examine whether racial differences in TTS may explain possible racial disparities in overall survival in a universal health care system. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort identified from the Department of Defense Central Cancer Registry and Military Health System Data Repository linked databases containing records between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2008, of 998 NHB women and 3899 NHW women who received a diagnosis of stages I to III breast cancer and underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy in the US Military Health System during the study period. Data analyses were conducted from July 5, 2017, to December 29, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was time to breast cancer surgery. Non-Hispanic black and NHW women were compared at the 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles of TTS by using multivariable quantile regression. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for all-cause death in NHB compared with NHW women after controlling for potential confounders first without and then with TTS. Results: Among the 4887 NHB and NHW women in the cohort, the mean (SD) age was 50.0 (9.4) years. The median TTS was 21 days (95% CI, 20.6-21.4 days) among NHW women and 22 days (95% CI, 20.6-23.4 days) among NHB women. Non-Hispanic black women had a significantly greater estimated TTS at the 75th (3.6 days; 95% CI, 1.6-5.5 days) and 90th (8.9 days; 95% CI, 5.1-12.6 days) percentiles than NHW women in multivariable models. The estimated differences were similar by surgery type. Non-Hispanic black women had a higher adjusted risk for death (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.06-2.01) compared with NHW women among patients receiving breast-conserving surgery. The risks were similar between races among those receiving mastectomy (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.76-1.48). The HRs remained similar after adding TTS to the Cox proportional hazards regression models. Conclusions and Relevance: This study's results indicate that time to breast cancer surgery was delayed for NHB compared with NHW women in the Military Health System. However, the racial differences in TTS did not explain the observed racial differences in overall survival among women who received breast-conserving surgery.

Costs for Breast Cancer Care in the Military Health System: An Analysis by Benefit Type and Care Source.

Introduction: Breast cancer care imposes a significant financial burden to U.S. healthcare systems. Health services factors, such as insurance benefit type and care source, may impact costs to the health system. Beneficiaries in the U.S. Military Health System (MHS) have universal healthcare coverage and access to a network of military facilities (direct care) and private practices (purchased care). This study aims to quantify and compare breast cancer care costs to the MHS by insurance benefit type and care source. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data linked between the MHS data repository administrative claims and central cancer registry databases. The institutional review boards of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Defense Health Agency, and the National Institutes of Health Office of Human Subjects Research reviewed and approved the data linkage. We used the linked data to identify records for women aged 40-64 yr who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2003 and 2007 and to extract information on insurance benefit type, care source, and cost to the MHS for breast cancer treatment. We estimated per capita costs for breast cancer care by benefit type and care source in 2008 USD using generalized linear models, adjusted for demographic, pathologic, and treatment characteristics. Results: The average per capita (n = 2,666) total cost for breast cancer care was $66,300 [standard error (SE) $9,200] over 3.31 (1.48) years of follow-up. Total costs were similar between benefit types, but varied by care source. The average per capita cost was $34,500 ($3,000) for direct care (n = 924), $96,800 ($4,800) for purchased care (n = 622), and $60,700 ($3,900) for both care sources (n = 1,120), respectively. Care source differences remained by tumor stage and for chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy treatment types. Conclusions: Per capita costs to the MHS for breast cancer care were similar by benefit type and lower for direct care compared with purchased care. Further research is needed in breast and other tumor sites to determine patterns and determinants of cancer care costs between benefit types and care sources within the MHS.

Evaluation of a Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study in Three Senior/Community Centers of Varying Socioeconomic Status.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an adapted Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle program, DPP Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB), delivered in 3 economically diverse senior/community centers. Methods The DPP-GLB was implemented in 3 senior/community centers in Allegheny County, PA. A 6-month delayed control intervention design was used. Participants were randomized to begin the DPP-GLB immediately (immediate) or after a 6-month delay (delayed). Adults (n = 134; mean age = 62.8 years) with BMI ≥24 kg/m2 and prediabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome took part. Weight, physical activity (PA), and diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors were assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months from baseline. Results At 6 months, the immediate group demonstrated greater mean weight loss than the delayed control group as well as significantly greater improvements in PA, A1C, fasting insulin, and waist circumference. In pre-post analyses, both randomized groups showed similar success that was maintained at 18 months. Conclusions The DPP-GLB delivered in economically diverse community centers was effective in this group of older adults. These findings support provision of coverage for prevention programs in older adults at risk for diabetes/CVD, which is important considering the large number of individuals who will be Medicare eligible in the near future.