Racial and gender disparities in the incidence of thyroid cancer using Nationwide Inpatient Database.

Abstract

e18066 Background: This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the ethnic and gender disparities that exist in thyroid cancer. Despite the significant amount of research that has been conducted on the complex and multifaceted differences between races and genders in various forms of cancer, there is still a noticeable gap in the data available in patients with thyroid cancer. Therefore, this study comprehensively assessed these disparities and their potential impact on the risk of developing Thyroid cancer. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample 2020, we identified patients with Thyroid cancer as the primary diagnosis (local/regional and advanced metastatic). We analyzed baseline characteristics such as age, gender, insurance, and income status, and several comorbidities to assess the risk associated with Thyroid cancer. Log Binomial regression model was used to calculate the Risk ratios after adjusting for confounding variables. Results: A total of 6,471,165 patients were analyzed, and it was found that 7520 of them (0.1%) had Thyroid cancer. Among these patients, 44.8% were male, and 55.1% were female, p<0.001. Female patients demonstrated a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer as compared to males (RR= 1.41(1.27-1.57); p<0.001). Compared to white females, white males, black males and females exhibited a decreased risk of bladder cancer (RR=0.66(0.58-0.76),p<0.001; RR= 0.24(0.16-0.36),p<0.001 and RR= 0.53(0.40-0.68), p<0.001, respectively). Hispanic females (RR=2.67(2.26-3.16);p<0.001) and females of other races (RR=1.69(1.20-2.37); p=0.002) had increased risk of Thyroid cancer, while no difference in risk was noted in Asian males (RR= 0.38(0.09-1.56); p=0.18), females (RR= 0.94(0.39-2.28); p=0.90) and males of other races (RR=0.81(0.51-1.29); p=0.38). Compared to lower income group patients, patients with high incomes had an increased risk of thyroid cancer ($65,000-$85,999: RR=1.18(1.01-1.38), p=0.03 ; >$86,000: RR=1.30(1.10-1.52), p=0.001). The risk of thyroid cancer decreased with increasing age (36-45:RR=0.59(0.48-0.72),p<0.001; 46-64: RR= 0.25(0.21-0.29),p<0.001; >65: RR =0.24(0.19-0.30), p<0.001). Patients with Diabetes had decreased risk (RR= 0.31(0.27-0.36); p<0.001), while patients with Hypertension had increased risk of thyroid cancer (RR=1.30(1.16-1.47); p<0.001). Conclusions: The disparities in healthcare access and the unique challenges faced by high-risk groups have a profound impact on patients with thyroid cancer. A more comprehensive understanding of these disparities is essential to effectively support this vulnerable patient population and to identify preventive measures that can reduce the incidence of bladder cancer among high-risk demographic segments.