Longitudinal changes in health care utilization by adult survivors of childhood cancer in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).

Abstract

6030 Background: The incidence of late effects increases as childhood cancer survivors age. Survivors require lifelong care focused on the risks arising from prior cancer therapy (survivor-focused care). Methods: We assessed longitudinal changes in health care utilization in adult survivors of childhood cancer participating in the CCSS. Utilization at baseline and most recent follow-up was classified into one of three mutually exclusive hierarchical categories: no health care, general medical care, or survivor-focused care. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for predictors of reduction in care over time from survivor-focused to general or no care. Multivariable models, adjusted for key treatment exposures, were created to assess the risk factors for reductions in level of care over time. Results: Among 8591 eligible survivors, mean age at last follow-up was 35.1 years (SD=7.8) with a mean of 11.6 years (SD=2.2) since baseline. Of 3993 (46%) survivors who reported survivor-focused care at baseline, 2383 (59.7%) reported a lower level of care at follow-up. Among 4598 (54%) not receiving survivor-focused care at baseline, 915 (20%) reported survivor-focused care at follow-up. Baseline predictors of a decreased level of care were no health insurance (RR=1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9), male sex (RR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.6), being 10-19 years from diagnosis compared with 20+ years (RR=1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7). In contrast, factors associated with a maintenance in survivor-focused care were Canadian residency compared to U.S. residency with insurance (RR=0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9), unemployment (RR=0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9), physical limitations (RR=0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9), cancer-related pain (RR=0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.8), poor emotional health (RR=0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.9), having mild-moderate (RR=0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.6) or severe-disabling chronic health condition (RR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7). Conclusions: Less than a third of adult survivors of childhood cancer report survivor-focused care. Rates decrease over time. Targeted interventions to maximize survivor-focused care in at-risk survivors should be tested so preventive and risk-reducing opportunities are not lost.