Predictors of adequate financial resources 5 years after breast cancer diagnosis in low-income women.

Abstract

e20620 Background: Financial security is often viewed as a social determinant of health, especially in low income populations. Among low-income breast cancer patients, identifying early predictors of financial security could aid researchers in developing tools to improve long-term financial stability. Methods: A consecutive sample of 921 low-income, underinsured/uninsured women treated for stage 0-III breast cancer was surveyed 6 months following diagnosis. Women were surveyed again at 18, 36 and 60 months. Eligible participants were English/Spanish speaking women enrolled in California’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program. The relationship between clinical, demographic, economic, health variables and adequacy of financial resources at 60 months was explored using logistic regression. Results: Of 590 women with complete data at 60 months, 45% said they did not have adequate financial resources 60 months following the diagnosis of breast cancer. Of these women, 74% (n=197) did not have adequate financial resources at 6 months, and 26% (n=70) went from having adequate financial resources at 6 months to not at 60 months. In univariate analyses, predictors of 60 month financial inadequacy included: employment status at 6 months (p=.017), ethnicity (p<.001), number of people living in the home (p=.004), age (p=.024), and adequate financial resources at 6 months (p<.001). In multivariate analyses, ethnicity (p=.008) and adequate financial resources at 6 months (p<.001) were independent predictors. Compared to non-Latina whites, Latinas had the lowest odds of having adequate financial resources at 60 months (adjusted OR: 0.51 95% CI: 0.32-0.82), followed by all other ethnicities (adjusted OR: 0.80 95% CI: 0.44-1.44). Conclusions: Financial stability after breast cancer diagnosis continues to be an issue faced by low income women five years following initial diagnosis. Ethnicity was an independent predictor of long-term financial stability. Latinas were especially likely to have inadequate financial resources 5 years after diagnosis. Long-term financial stability was not associated with any of the treatment and health or disease-related measures.