non-Hispanic Blacks Research Articles

Abstract A005: Addressing Moonshot limitations: High-risk racial disparities in leading cancers

Abstract Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., posing a significant public health challenge with rising incidence rates among young adults. In response, the Biden administration reignited The Cancer Moonshot initiative in 2022, aiming to reduce cancer mortality by 50% over the next 25 years. However, as there remains different mortality rates across subpopulations defined by race and ethnicity, the 50% translates into much more or less depending on the starting point for each group. Achieving this goal would require a 57.0% decrease for Black Americans, 51.9% decrease for White Americans, 21.4% for Asian Americans, 31.0% decrease for Hispanics, and 41.3% decrease for American Indian/Alaska Natives. This study examines the trends in in U.S. cancer incidence, 5-year survival, and mortality during 1992-2022 with a focus on the five leading cancers (lung, colorectal, breast, pancreas, prostate) stratified by race and ethnicity. From 2008-2020, overall cancer death rates have declined by 1.18%/year with attribution to declining lung cancer rates (-2.75%/year, 2005-2020) and anti-smoking campaigns. Estimates have been made on how to meet the Cancer Moonshot through primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, but these rates have not factored in the different starting points nor racial disparities that exist. Progress has been heterogenous across racial/ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic Black communities continue to face excessive cancer burden compared to counterparts and have had the slowest declines in annual percent changes for mortality. To reach the Moonshot’s mortality goals in 2047, an annual decline of 1.78% across all racial and ethnic groups is needed. However, the required mortality reductions vary by cancer type and are lower for Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives due to inadequate access to screening and treatment. This study delineates the need for multi-level, culturally tailored interventions to improve cancer prevention, screening, and treatment accessibility. To achieve Moonshot objectives, it is imperative to increase the number of on-site patient navigators, enhance accessibility through health education and transportation services, and promote digital campaigns for primary and secondary prevention services. Despite discrepancies in interventions and policy practices, enhancing the cultural competence and holistic nature of these interventions will strengthen efforts towards health equity. These approaches can better serve high-risk groups and alleviate racial disparities in cancerous outcomes. Citation Format: Sukhmani Kaur, Rebecca Kehm, Mary Beth Terry. Addressing Moonshot limitations: High-risk racial disparities in leading cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A005.

Abstract C120: Characterization of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment and its association with cancer health disparities

Abstract Black persons have the highest mortality rates of both cervical cancer (CC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the United States. Differences in access to quality healthcare and socioeconomic status contribute to these cancer health disparities as well as ancestry and biology. In other cancer types, differences in the inflammatory tumor landscape across races and ancestral populations have been reported. However, the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) as it relates to CC and PDAC health disparities is not well defined. Black patients are often underrepresented in PDAC studies. Meanwhile, CC health disparities studies primarily investigate socioeconomic status, screening, and vaccination rates. Therefore, we aim to characterize the inflammatory TME in these two cancer types with the long-term goal of informing prevention, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared between Black (n = 144) and White (n = 198) patients with CC who received care at Johns Hopkins Medicine between 1995 and 2019. Surgically resected formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) CC tissue samples were obtained from Non-Hispanic Black (n = 10), Non-Hispanic White (n = 10), Hispanic Black (n = 5), and Hispanic White (n = 5) women matched on grade, age, and subtype. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed using archival surgically resected FFPE PDAC tissues from Black (n = 45) and White (n = 45) patients, matched on sex, age, stage, and time of surgery. Multiplexing immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was used to assess markers for i) T cells (CD3, CD8, CD4, FoxP3), M2 macrophages (CD163), mast cells (Tryptase), and fibroblasts (FAP) in PDAC tissues and ii) B cells (CD79A), T cells (CD3, CD8, CD4, FoxP3), plasma cells (CD138/syndecan-1), programmed death-ligand 1 protein (PD-L1), macrophages (CD68, CD163), natural killer cells (NKP46/CD56/CD16), neutrophils (CD66ce), and mast cells (Tryptase) in CC tissues. HALO Image Analysis Platform (version 3.6.4134.137; Indica Labs) was used to quantify marker expression. GraphPad Prism Software (version 10.0.03), was used for graphing and statistical analysis. Squamous cell CC was the most frequent histological subtype in both Black (68%) and White (44%) women. Progression through treatment was more common among Black women (24%) compared to White women (7%). CD163+ M2 macrophages were significantly increased in PDAC tumors compared to benign tissues among Black patients (p = 0.0435), and in tumors from Black women compared to White women (p = 0.0067). FAP+ fibroblasts were also significantly increased in PDAC tumors compared to benign tissues among Black patients (p = 0.0001) and in tumors from Black women compared to White women (p = 0.0013). CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells were comparable between races. We observed differences in macrophage and fibroblast distribution between races supporting the effort for future studies that examine the significance of characterizing the TME to address cancer health disparities. Citation Format: Jelani Jarrett, Jae W Lee, Ali Dbouk, Vahinipriya Manoharan, Kennedy Rains, Terri Mason, Kimberly Levinson, Laura D Wood, Michael G Goggins, Janielle P Maynard. Characterization of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment and its association with cancer health disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C120.

Abstract A058: Investigating the role of race/ethnicity on the association between neighborhood deprivation and breast cancer outcomes among Kentucky breast cancer patients years 2010-2022

Abstract Background: Despite advances in medical knowledge and treatment, disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist along demographic and socioeconomic lines. To quantify these disparities, the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) emerges as a powerful metric. It offers insights into the interplay between neighborhood socioeconomic status and breast cancer outcomes by encompassing factors pertaining to income, education, employment, and housing quality. There have been limited studies to examine the role of race and neighborhood disadvantage on specific breast cancer outcomes. Kentucky also faces a unique burden as it has the third highest breast cancer mortality rate in the United States. This study aims to examine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and breast cancer outcomes including receipt of surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and breast cancer-specific survival. While also examining how any associations are modified by race and ethnicity among Kentucky breast cancer patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) among breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with follow-up data through December 31, 2022. The KCR dataset was then linked with census tract data to examine ADI. We conducted consecutive multilevel logistic regression for binary outcomes and Cox Proportional hazard models using SAS (version 9.4, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North Carolina, USA) for time-to-event of breast cancer survival. Results: Women in the most disadvantaged quartile (4th quartile) were more likely to be Non-Hispanic Black (NH-Black), Appalachian residents, current tobacco users, divorced and using government insurance. Compared to women in the least disadvantaged neighborhoods (1st quartile) women living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (4th quartile) were 50% more likely to die from breast cancer (HR: 1.50, 95 CI: 1.28-1.76). Women in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (4th quartile) were also more likely to be diagnosed at later stages (aOR:1.26, 95 CI:1.13-1.42). These associations were all observed after adjusting for age, race, tobacco use, marital status, insurance status, family history, and residence in Appalachia. Conclusions: Women living in areas of greater disadvantage had significantly increased odds of late-stage diagnosis and risk of breast cancer death regardless of race suggesting that neighborhood-level factors contribute to breast cancer disparities. Our findings underscore the need for neighborhood-level interventions to improve cancer outcomes. Citation Format: Breyanna E. Walker, Elinita Pollard, Justin Moore, Sydney Howard, Pamela Hull, Kathleen O'Connor, Samantha Jones, Lovoria Williams, Adebola Adegboyega, Veronica Jones, Eric Durban, Xiaoqin Wang, Wendi Owen. Investigating the role of race/ethnicity on the association between neighborhood deprivation and breast cancer outcomes among Kentucky breast cancer patients years 2010-2022 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A058.

Abstract A024: Exploring liver cancer risk factors by birth cohort: An electronic health record (EHR)-based epidemiologic cohort study

Abstract Background: Most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases in the U.S. have been attributed to chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, though burden of alcoholic liver disease and metabolic-dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is rising. Individuals born between 1945-1965 (“the baby boomers”), comprise 25% of the U.S. population but account for 81% of chronic HCV infections and thus bear a disproportionate burden of HCC compared to younger or older cohorts. We examined the association of HCV and other risk factors to liver cancer incidence within liver cancer birth cohorts. Methods: Adults with at least one visit from 2000-2017 to San Francisco Health Network (SFHN), Sutter Health Northern California, and Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i (KPH) were linked to data on incident HCC from the California (SFHN/Sutter) and Hawai’i (KPH) cancer registries through 2017. The three birth cohorts were defined as 1)1895-1944 (“pre-baby boomer”); 2)1945-1965 (“baby boomer”); 3)1966-1999 (“post-baby boomer”). We used Cox proportional hazards regression with age as the timescale to examine association of each risk factor (i.e., HBV, HCV, metabolic syndrome, MAFLD, alcohol use, smoking history) with incident HCC stratified by sex and birth cohort; models were adjusted for site, baseline year, number of encounters, length of active follow-up, race/ethnicity, and cirrhosis. For next steps, we plan to calculate the population attributable fraction for each of these risk factors. Results: From the pooled cohort of 4,248,553 individuals, 2,916 had incident HCC. 15% were born between 1895-1944; 32% from 1945-1965; and 53% from 1966-1999; 55% were females; 39% identified as non-Hispanic (NH) White; 14% as Asian American; 11% as Hispanic; 5% as NH Black. Across all birth cohorts, males and females with active chronic hepatitis B had higher HCC risk compared to those with inactive status. Males and females in the pre-baby boomer and baby boomer cohorts (but not post baby-boomers) with active chronic hepatitis C had higher HCC risk. Males and females in the pre-baby boomer cohort (Hazard Ratio [HR]=2.58, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.01-3.31); HR=2.85, 95% CI 2.03-4.00, respectively) and females in the baby boomer cohort (HR=1.55, 95% CI 1.03-2.32) with metabolic syndrome had higher HCC risk. Having MAFLD was associated with increased HCC risk among males from all three birth cohorts and females in the pre-baby boomer and baby-boomer cohort. Alcohol use was associated with higher HCC among pre-baby boomer males (HR=1.23, 95% CI 1,04-1.46) and baby boomer females (HR=1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.76). Conclusion: In this racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse cohort, HBV is a significant risk factor in HCC risk across birth cohorts for both males and females, while HCV is among older birth cohorts. Consistent with recent studies, MAFLD is a growing cause across birth cohorts. Understanding the contribution of these risk factors and for whom they are most relevant can help identify targets for intervention to reduce liver cancer burden. Citation Format: Janet N. Chu, Aly Cortella, Alison J. Canchola, Pushkar Inamdar, Sixiang Nie, Mai Vu, Ma Somsouk, Michele M. Tana, Caroline A. Thompson, Chanda Ho, Hashem B. El-Serag, Mi-Ok Kim, Mark Segal, Yihe G. Daida, Su-Ying Liang, Scarlett L. Gomez, Mindy C. Derouen, Salma Shariff-Marco. Exploring liver cancer risk factors by birth cohort: An electronic health record (EHR)-based epidemiologic cohort study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A024.

Abstract A113: National trends in cervical cancer screening by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity in cisgender women

Abstract Background: Lesbian, gay, and/or bisexual (LGB) women have decreased rates of cervical cancer screening compared to heterosexual women which may be due to barriers accessing care. This difficulty accessing care is magnified in racial/ethnic minority LGB women. Objective: To estimate changes in guideline-concordant cervical cancer screening (CCS) over time by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021(full cohort). Methods: This retrospective, population-based, cross-sectional analysis included cisgender (denotes gender identity corresponding with sex assigned at birth) women aged 21-65 without history of hysterectomy. Respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual or an identity other than straight, lesbian, or bisexual were coded as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB). Respondents who self-identified as straight were coded as heterosexual. Up to date (UTD) CCS was determined based on NHIS questions “When did you have your most recent Pap test?” and “Did you have a human papillomavirus (HPV) test with your most recent Pap test?”. If most recent screening test was within the intervals defined by the US Preventive Services Task Force screening guidelines for respective ages and modalities, they were considered UTD. We performed joinpoint analysis to characterize piecewise log-linear time calendar trends in the proportion of UTD CCS and calculated Annual Percent Change (APC) from 2013 to 2021. Results: Overall, there were 40,818 participants in the full cohort, of which 4.32% identified as LGB. 70.64% of the LGB participants reported UTD CCS in contrast to 78.92% of the heterosexual participants. In 2013, 80.87% of the heterosexual participants were UTD for CCS in comparison to 70.59% of LGB participants. In 2021, UTD screening rates fell to 75.4% for heterosexual participants and 68.86% in LGB participants. In trend analysis only heterosexual participants had a significant APC in screening of -0.97% (p=.002) from 2013- 2021, and there was no significant trend for LGB individuals. When evaluating screening rates by sexual orientation and race, we found that heterosexual Hispanic and non-Hispanic (NH) White women had decreased in UTD CCS (APC of -1.52, p=0.008 and -0.63, p=0.02, respectively). Additionally, LGB NH Black women had a significant decrease in UTD screening over the study period (APC of -2.67, p<0.005) falling from 85.22% in 2013 to 67.91% in 2019. Conclusions: In 2021 there were approximately 19.72 million cisgender women aged 21-65 who were potentially not UTD with CCS. Of these, 1.76 million LGB women were not UTD for CCS, and a greater proportion of these women identified as NH Black. Future efforts need to improve screening in cisgender populations regardless of sexual orientation, and specific attention should be aimed at LGB and Black identifying cisgender women. Citation Format: Kelley Baumann, Caryn E Peterson, Stacie Geller, Saria Awadalla, Hunter K Holt. National trends in cervical cancer screening by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity in cisgender women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A113.

Abstract C061: Disparities in second breast cancers among women with ductal carcinoma in situ

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States and Oklahoma. Outcomes from DCIS are generally favorable, however, up to 50% of patients will develop an SBC after DCIS, with approximately 30% diagnosed as invasive SBC. Our research objective was to use a combination of data sources (registry, demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic data) to explore the presence of disparities and treatment outcomes, among women of different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups in Oklahoma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing the overall incidence of DCIS, invasive breast cancer (IBC), and the development of SBCs in women residing in Oklahoma at the time of diagnosis. We obtained data from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry (OCCR) and included women diagnosed with breast cancer from 1997-2021 in our analyses. We restricted analyses to women with DCIS as their first primary cancer. SBC was defined as a second primary cancer diagnosed at least six months after the first DCIS diagnosis. We evaluated demographic and cancer-related characteristics of women diagnosed with DCIS as their first cancer by development of a SBC. Results: In initial analyses, we identified 7,903 women with DCIS as their initial cancer diagnosis. Of the women with DCIS, 80% were over 50 years of age at diagnosis and the majority were non-Hispanic (NH) White (85%). For cancer-related characteristics, 33% of tumors were well or moderately differentiated (44% unknown) and 51% of tumors originated in the left breast. Of these women, 513 were subsequently diagnosed with a SBC, which included both in situ (26%) and invasive breast cancers (74%). Among women with a SBC, a higher percentage of women were <50 years of age at the initial DCIS diagnosis (27% vs. 19%) and NH Black (9.4% vs. 6.7%) compared to those without a SBC. Discussion: As a next step, we will further evaluate the risk of SBC among women in the OCCR and National Cancer Data Base to evaluate disparities at the national level. We are planning to evaluate the risk of an SBC after diagnosis of a DCIS by demographic and cancer-related characteristics using multivariable models. We will also evaluate survival among women with DCIS who develop a subsequent SBC. Citation Format: Amanda Janitz, Bethany Hannafon, Mary L Williams, Elizabeth Wellberg, Chao Xu, William Dooley. Disparities in second breast cancers among women with ductal carcinoma in situ [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C061.

Abstract A062: Glycemic control and risk of total and advanced prostate cancer in Veterans with diabetes: analysis of disparities by race/ethnicity

Abstract Introduction Access to quality healthcare is considered a key driver in the multifactorial process giving rise to racial inequities in two of the most common complex diseases in adult men in the US - prostate cancer and diabetes. Whether inequities in diabetes treatment and outcomes, and/or related metabolic and hormone signaling pathways contribute to racial differences in prostate cancer outcomes in an equal access setting is unknown. Our objective is to determine if associations between glycemic control assessed by routine clinically measured hemoglobin A1c (A1c), among men with diabetes and risk of total and advanced prostate are similar in Black and White men receiving care from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods We used clinical data from the VHA to construct a longitudinal cohort of male Veterans >=45 years of age with diagnosed diabetes free of any cancer from 01/01/2010 to 12/31/2019. We classified men with total prostate cancer if the date of prostate cancer diagnosis preceded any other cancer diagnosis. Advanced prostate cancer was classified as prostate cancer diagnosis with Gleason score >=8, or PSA >=100 ng/mL, or metastasis, or death from prostate cancer. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for time-updated annual mean A1c (<7% [ref]; 7-8%; >8%) and total and advanced prostate cancer risk adjusted for age; marital status; rurality, smoking; annual primary care visits; service-connected disability; comorbidities; statin use; and oral diabetes medication use for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) men separately. Results Among 736,964 Veterans with diabetes, we observed 31,330 prostate cancer events including 6,779 advanced prostate cancers. For NHW men, poor glycemic control (A1c >8%) and moderate control (A1c 7-8%) were associated with a 19% (HR=0.81; 95%CI=0.78-0.84) and 8% lower risk (HR=0.92; 95%CI=0.89-95) of total prostate cancer incidence (p-trend<0.001). Among NHB men, inverse associations were attenuated for poor (HR=0.90; 95% CI=0.86-0.95) and moderate (HR=1.01; 95% CI=0.96-1.06) glycemic control and total prostate cancer risk (p-trend <0.001). For advanced prostate cancer, associations were inverse for poor (HR=0.90; 95% CI=0.83-0.97) and moderate glycemic control (HR=0.90; 95% CI=0.84-0.97) and advanced prostate cancer risk in NHW men, while non-statistically significant associations were observed in NHB men with poor HR=1.06; 95%CI=0.96-1.18) and moderate glycemic control (HR=1.04; 95%CI=0.94-1.16). Conclusion In the largest equal access healthcare system in the US, inverse associations for glycemic control and risk of total and advanced prostate cancer varied by race/ethnicity with stronger inverse associations observed in NHW men compared to NHB men. Whether the racial differences in diabetes treatment and care contribute to the observed disparities in total and advanced prostate cancer risk could inform precision public health efforts aimed at reducing inequities in both diabetes and prostate cancer outcomes. Citation Format: Michael T. Marrone, Kinfe G. Bishu, Neal Axon, Hermes Florez, Robert L. Grubb, Mulugeta Gebregziabher. Glycemic control and risk of total and advanced prostate cancer in Veterans with diabetes: analysis of disparities by race/ethnicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A062.

Abstract A076: Racial disparities in disease-free and overall survival among colorectal cancer patients in the prospective ColoCare cohort

Abstract Background: Despite improvements in screening and treatment, Black and other underserved colorectal cancer survivors continue to experience poorer clinical outcomes. Multicenter prospective cohorts among large cancer centers in the United States (US) offer the unique opportunity to characterize potential multilevel determinants of disparate outcomes while accounting for known contributions of medical access and treatment. We investigated racial and ethnic disparities in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival in the ColoCare study, a prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients across six US cancer centers. Method: The ColoCare study population (n=2,471) from six US sites included n=1,950 non-Hispanic White (NHW), n=238 non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and n=114 Hispanic patients. We estimated racial and ethnic differences in baseline patient characteristics using χ2. We investigated disparities in outcomes by estimating associations of race and ethnicity with DFS (among stage I-III) and overall mortality using Cox Proportional Hazards Models, adjusted for sex, stage at diagnosis, age, study center, and anatomic site. Results: The patients were primarily male (53%), had colon tumors (37.5%), with an average age at diagnosis of 58.6 years. Hispanic individuals were on average younger than their counterparts (P=.03), while NHB individuals were more likely to be overweight and obese (P<.01). NHB individuals had statistically significantly poorer DFS than NHW individuals (HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.03-2.32; P=0.03). NHB individuals also had higher risk for overall mortality (HR=1.45, 95% CI=0.97-2.16; P=0.07), though these findings were not statistically significant. Overall, associations of Hispanic ethnicity with DFS and overall survival were close to null. Discussion: NHB individuals had poorer survivorship outcomes in our study despite all patients receiving care at designated comprehensive cancer centers. Our findings highlight the continued need to address disparities in survivorship using targeted, culturally sensitive intervention strategies. Future research efforts should identify actionable factors, such as adiposity, that may disproportionately impact health outcomes among minority colorectal cancer survivors. Citation Format: Esther Jean-Baptiste, Mmadili Ilozumbo, Gazelle Rouhani, Maria F. Gomez, Stephanie R. Hogue, Sheetal Hardikar, Biljana Gigic, Christopher I Li, Jane C Figueiredo, Adetunji T. Toriola, Cornelia M Ulrich, David Shibata, Erin M Siegel, Doratha A. Byrd. Racial disparities in disease-free and overall survival among colorectal cancer patients in the prospective ColoCare cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A076.

See Me, Hear Me: Racial Discrimination Among Women Seeking Breast Cancer Care.

Discrimination can contribute to worse health outcomes, but its prevalence in breast cancer is not well studied. We aimed to understand how women with stage I-III breast cancer faced discrimination in health care and everyday settings through a cross-sectional survey. 296 women, 178 (60%) Non-Hispanic White (NHW), 76 (26%) Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and 42 (14%) Hispanic participated. NHB women reported significantly more discrimination in everyday life compared to NHW women (score 20.1 vs 16.1, p<.001) and Hispanic women (score 20.1 vs 16.0, p<.001). In the health care setting, NHB had statistically more frequent reports of being ignored (23.7% vs. 5.6%), treated with less respect (21.1% vs. 7.3%), and treated with less courtesy (18.7% vs. 6.2%; all P=<.001) when compared to NHW women. NHB women experience a higher degree of discrimination both inside and outside of health care. Further research to understand discrimination on breast cancer outcomes is warranted.

Caregiver Adverse Childhood Experiences and Pediatric Infection-Related Outcomes

Abstract Background Higher caregiver adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with multiple adverse pediatric outcomes. However, no studies have examined links between caregiver ACEs and infectious outcomes like antibiotic prescriptions or infection-related clinical encounters. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients from two pediatric primary care sites, serving predominantly non-Hispanic Black, publicly-insured populations. Our outcomes were antibiotic prescriptions and infection-related ambulatory clinical encounters for children 0-3 years old. We captured these outcomes and additional covariates (demographics, health-related social risk screen results, and socioeconomic deprivation index scores linked to geocoded street addresses), from the electronic health record. High (≥4) or low (≤3) caregiver ACEs, and individual ACE question answers, were our exposures. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine associations with any antibiotic use. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess time to first antibiotic exposure and first infection-related visit. Results A total of 1,465 children 0-3 years were included (50.0% female, 75.0% Black, 2.6% Hispanic). High caregiver ACEs were not associated with pediatric antibiotic exposure. The presence of caregiver-witnessed parental abuse was associated with higher likelihood of any antibiotic exposure (odds ratio [OR 1.90]; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2, 3.2) and time to first antibiotic exposure (hazard ratio [HR] 1.77; 95%CI 1.23, 2.56). Sexual abuse of the caregiver was associated with time to first infection-related clinical visit (HR 1.27; 95%CI 1.05, 1.53). Conclusions Certain caregiver ACEs were associated with pediatric antibiotic use and infection-related visits. Future studies need to evaluate underlying mechanisms and test effective clinical responses.

Use of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Hematologic Cancers by Race, Ethnicity, and Age.

Utilization of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for hematologic cancers previously demonstrated race, ethnicity, and age-based disparities. To evaluate utilization over time by race, ethnicity, and age to determine if disparities persist in light of recent significant increases in HCT volume. This US population-based retrospective cohort study includes patients who received transplants from January 2009 to December 2018. Data collection and cleaning occurred from February 2019 to November 2021, and data analysis occurred from January 2022 to October 2023. Method 1 restricted the analysis to Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) reporting areas for cases and transplants. Method 2 applied SEER age-, race-, and ethnicity-specific incidence rates to corresponding US census population and included all transplants reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. Race and ethnicity groups were hierarchically defined as Hispanic (any race), non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Other (Asian and American Indian). Receipt of HCT. Utilization rate of autologous or allogeneic HCT for patients with hematologic cancers by age, race, and ethnicity. From 2009 to 2018, 136 280 HCTs were analyzed for 6 hematologic cancers comprising 16.7% pediatric/adolescent/young adults (0-39 years), 83.3% adults (40-84 years), 58% male, 10.3% Hispanic, 11.4% non-Hispanic Black, 3.8% non-Hispanic Other, and 74.5% non-Hispanic White patients, with 49 385 allogeneic and 86 895 autologous HCTs performed. HCT utilization increased over time for all disease, age, race, and ethnic groups. From 2017 to 2018, adult (40-84 years) allogeneic transplant utilization for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was similar for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White or Other patients but was lower for non-Hispanic Black patients (acute myeloid leukemia: 19% vs 13%; MDS: 9%-10% vs 5%). Similarly, autologous transplant utilization for lymphoma was similar for all race and ethnicity groups; however, autologous transplant for multiple myeloma was highest for non-Hispanic White patients and lower for all other groups (31% vs 26%-27%). In patients aged 0 to 39 years, utilization of allogeneic transplant for acute lymphoblastic leukemia was highest in Hispanic patients, followed by non-Hispanic White, Black, and Other races (acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 19%, 18%, 17%, and 16%, respectively). In this cohort study of autologous and allogeneic transplant utilization for hematologic cancers, disparities persisted for non-Hispanic Black patients. Hispanic, non-Hispanic Other, and younger age groups had increased utilization over time that was on par with non-Hispanic White patients in the most recent cohort.

Social Determinants of Health and Insurance Claim Denials for Preventive Care.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) eliminated out-of-pocket cost-sharing for recommended preventive care for most privately insured patients. However, patients seeking preventive care continue to face cost-sharing and administrative hurdles, including claim denials, which may exacerbate inequitable access to care. To determine whether patient demographics and social determinants of health are associated with denials of insurance claims for preventive care. This cohort study of patients insured through their employers or the ACA Marketplaces used claims and remittance data from Symphony Health Solutions' Integrated DataVerse from 2017 to 2020; analysis was completed from January to July 2024. Seeking preventive care. The primary outcome was the frequency of insurer denials for preventive services across 5 categories: specific benefit denials, billing errors, coverage lapses, inadequate coverage, and other. Subgroup analysis was performed across patient household income, education, and race and ethnicity. Secondary outcomes included charges for denied claims, approximating patients' remaining financial responsibility for care. A total of 1 535 181 patients received 4 218 512 preventive services in 2 507 943 unique visits (mean [SD] age at visits, 54.02 [13.19] years; 1 804 637 visits for female patients [71.96%]); 585 299 patients (23.30%) had an annual household income $100 000 or higher, and 824 540 patients had some college education (32.88%). A total of 20 658 individuals (0.82%) were Asian, 139 950 (5.58%) were Hispanic, 219 646 (8.76%) were non-Hispanic Black, 1 372 223 (54.72%) were non-Hispanic White, and 25 412 (1.0%1) were other races and ethnicities not included in the other 4 groups. Of preventive claims, 1.34% (95% CI, 1.32%-1.36%) were denied, consisting mainly of specific benefit denials (0.67%; 95% CI, 0.66%-0.68%) and billing errors (0.51%; 95% CI, 0.50%-0.52%). The lowest-income patients had 43.0% higher odds of experiencing a denial than the highest-income patients (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.37-1.50; P < .001). The least educated enrollees had a denial rate of 1.79% (95% CI, 1.76%-1.82%) compared with 1.14% (95% CI, 1.12%-1.16%) for enrollees with college degrees. Denial rates for Asian (2.72%; 95% CI, 2.55%-2.90%), Hispanic (2.44%; 95% CI, 2.38%-2.50%), and non-Hispanic Black (2.04%; 95% CI, 1.99%-2.08%) patients were significantly higher than those for non-Hispanic White patients (1.13%; 95% CI, 1.12%-1.15%). In this cohort study of 1 535 181 patients seeking preventive care, denials of insurance claims for preventive care were disproportionately more common among at-risk patient populations. This administrative burden potentially perpetuates inequitable access to high-value health care.

Patient-Reported Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: Results From the National Health and Wellness Survey.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory condition characterized by chronic, disabling gastrointestinal symptoms that can have detrimental effects on psychological, social, and professional quality of life. Few studies have examined patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and economic outcomes among individuals with varying UC severity and across different racial/ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study assessed sociodemographic data, PROs, and economic outcomes for participants from the National Health and Wellness Survey (2018, 2019, and 2020) with UC. Multivariable analyses were used to assess the association of self-reported UC severity and race/ethnicity with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI), healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and medical costs. This study included 1500 participants with UC (1150 non-Hispanic White, 99 non-Hispanic Black, and 251 Hispanic). Moderate/severe disease was associated with significantly worse HRQoL and WPAI, greater HCRU, and higher direct medical costs than mild UC. Compared with non-Hispanic White participants, non-Hispanic Black participants reported better HRQoL, whereas Hispanic participants reported more HCRU and higher medical costs. Race/ethnicity significantly interacted with UC severity level in predicting labor force participation. Participants with moderate/severe disease had worse outcomes than those with mild UC. Additionally, racial/ethnic differences were found in HRQoL, employment, WPAI, HCRU, and direct medical costs. Notably, Hispanic participants showed distinct patterns, particularly in how disease severity influenced employment outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the differential burden among patients across racial/ethnic groups.

The Supporting Emerging Adults With Diabetes (SEAD) Program: An Adult-Based Real-World Clinical Model That Improves Hospitalizations, Diabetes Technology Uptake, and Glycemic Outcomes in Underserved Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes.

Underserved young adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience the worst outcomes across the life span. We developed and integrated the Supporting Emerging Adults with Diabetes (SEAD) program into routine endocrinology care to address unmet social and medical challenges. This study was designed as a longitudinal cohort study, with prospective data collection over 4 years on YA in SEAD compared with usual endocrine care. We used propensity-weighted analysis to account for differences in baseline characteristics, and multivariate regression and Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate change in outcomes over time. Primary outcomes included incidence of hospitalizations, diabetes technology uptake, and annual change in HbA1c levels. We included 497 YA with T1D in SEAD (n = 332) and usual endocrine care (n = 165); mean age 25 years, 27% non-Hispanic Black, 46% Hispanic, 49% public insurance, mean HbA1c 9.2%. Comparing YA in SEAD versus usual care, 1) incidence of hospitalizations was reduced by 64% for baseline HbA1c >9% (HR 0.36 [0.13, 0.98]) and 74% for publicly insured (HR 0.26 [0.07, 0.90]); 2) automated insulin delivery uptake was 1.5-times higher (HR 1.51 [0.83, 2.77]); and 3) HbA1c improvement was greater (SEAD, -0.37% per year [-0.59, -0.15]; usual care, -0.26% per year [-0.58, 0.05]). SEAD meaningfully improves clinical outcomes in underserved YA with T1D, especially for publicly insured and high baseline HbA1c levels. Early intervention for at-risk YA with T1D as they enter adult care could reduce inequity in short and long-term outcomes.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Severe Aortic Stenosis by Echocardiography.

Understanding the burden of aortic stenosis (AS) across diverse racial and ethnic populations is important to ensure equitable resource allocation. This study explored whether severe AS rate varies by race and ethnicity. The rates of severe AS, stratified by race and ethnicity, were calculated among 615,038 adults with a transthoracic echocardiogram. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with severe AS. Severe AS rates ranged from 0.08% in adults < 50 years old to 3.8% in those ≥ 90 years old. Compared to non-Hispanic White and Asian American [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42-0.53] and non-Hispanic Black (aOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.39-0.50) patients were less likely to have severe AS, whereas Hispanic patients (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.98) had near similar likelihood. Age was the strongest risk factor for severe AS (compared to age < 50 years, aOR = 21.8, 95% CI: 17.8-26.6 for age 80-89 years, and aOR = 43.8, 95% 35.5-54.0 for age ≥ 90 years). Additional factors associated with severe AS included male sex (aOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.30-1.46) and diabetes (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.15-1.31). Asian American and non-Hispanic Black adults had lower rates of severe AS compared to White and Hispanic patients. The rate of severe AS progressively increases with age in all racial and ethnic groups, with higher rates in men compared with women. With a demographic shift toward an aging and more diverse population, the burden of AS is anticipated to rise. Ensuring adequate allocation of resources to meet the evolving needs of a diverse population remains a shared health care imperative.

The decorin and myostatin response to acute whole body vibration: impact of adiposity, sex, and race.

Traditional forms of exercise affect immune, metabolic, and myokine responses and contribute to a multitude of health benefits. Whole body vibration (WBV) has recently emerged as an exercise mimetic that may be more tolerable for those individuals that cannot perform traditional exercise. However, the myokines response to acute WBV in humans has yet to be fully elucidated. To characterize the decorin and myostatin response to acute whole body vibration (WBV) and determine the impact of adiposity, sex, and race. One hundred twenty-nine adults (32.8 ± 0.4 years, 66.7% female, 53.5% non-Hispanic Black) were recruited as part of an ongoing, longitudinal twin cohort parent study. Participants were classified into three groups: those with obesity (OB: ≥30 kg/m2), those who are overweight (OW: ≥25 and <30 kg/m2), or those with normal weight (NW: <25 kg/m2) based on BMI. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 1 h (1H), 3 h (3H), and 24 h (24H) post WBV. The acute WBV protocol consisted of 10 cycles of 1 min of vibration exercise followed by 30 s of standing rest. The response was similar between NW and OW, so these groups were combined for analysis (NW/OW: BMI < 30 kg/m2). Overall, circulating concentrations of decorin were higher (p < 0.001) POST (8.80 ± 0.19 pg/mL) and significantly lower (p's ≤ 0.005) at 1H (8.66 ± 0.19 pg/mL) and 3H (8.68 ± 0.19 pg/mL), compared to PRE (8.71 ± 0.19 pg/mL). Decorin POST was greater (p = 0.016) in the OB group (8.82 ± 0.18 pg/mL) compared to the NW/OW group (8.77 ± 0.20 pg/mL). Overall, myostatin was higher (p = 0.002) POST (54.93 ± 1.04 pg/mL) and lower (p < 0.001) at 24H (49.13 ± 1.04 pg/mL) compared to PRE (53.49 ± 1.04 pg/mL). The myostatin response was lower (p's ≤ 0.001) in female and non-Hispanic White individuals compared to male and non-Hispanic Black individuals, respectively. A single bout of WBV can facilitate the release of decorin and myostatin into circulation, a similar response to traditional exercise. Additionally, adiposity, sex and race should be considered when evaluating the myokines response to WBV.

The association between social vulnerability and geriatric assessment impairments among older adults with gastrointestinal cancers-The CARE Registry.

Older adults comprise the majority of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Geriatric assessments (GAs) are recommended for older adults with cancer in part to detect aging-related impairments (e.g., frailty) associated with early mortality. Social factors like social vulnerability may also influence aging-related impairments. However, the association between social vulnerability and aging outcomes among older adults with cancer is understudied. The authors included 908 older adults aged 60 years and older who were recently diagnosed with GI cancer undergoing GA at their first prechemotherapy visit to the University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology clinic. The primary exposure of interest was the social vulnerability index (SVI). Outcomes were frailty (frail vs. robust/prefrail) and total number of GA impairments (range, 0-13). The authors examined the association between SVI and outcomes using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation and generalized estimating equations. The median age at GA was 69 years (interquartile range, 64-75 years), 58.2% of patients were male, 22.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 29.1% had colorectal cancer, 28.2% had pancreatic cancer, and 70.3% had stage III/IV disease. Adjusting for age, sex, cancer type, and disease stage, each decile increase in the SVI was associated with an 8% higher prevalence of frailty (prevalence ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.11) and a 4% higher average count of total GA impairments (risk ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.06). The results were attenuated after further adjustment for race and education. Greater social vulnerability was associated with a higher prevalence of frailty and an increasing average number of GA impairments among older adults with GI cancers before systemic treatment. Intervening on social vulnerability may be a target for improving the risk of frailty and GA impairments, but associations of race and education should be further evaluated.

Prevalence of cardiovascular events in a population-based registry of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

BackgroundThe Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program (MLSP), a population-based retrospective registry of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), was used to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease events (CVE) and compare rates among sex, age and race/ethnicity to population-based controls.MethodsPatients with prevalent SLE in 2007 aged ≥ 20 years in the MLSP were included. CVE required documentation of a myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. We calculated crude risk ratios and adjusted risk ratios (ARR) controlling for sex, age group, race and ethnicity, and years since diagnosis. Data from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the 2013–2014 NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) were used to calculate expected CVE prevalence by multiplying NHANES and NYC HANES estimates by strata-specific counts of patients with SLE. Crude prevalence ratios (PRs) using national and NYC estimates and age standardized prevalence ratios (ASPRs) using national estimates were calculated.ResultsCVE occurred in 13.9% of 1,285 MLSP patients with SLE, and risk was increased among men (ARR:1.7, 95%CI:1.2–2.5) and older adults (age > 60 ARR:2.5, 95%CI:1.7–3.8). Compared with non-Hispanic Asian patients, CVE risk was elevated among Hispanic/Latino (ARR:3.1, 95%CI:1.4-7.0) and non-Hispanic Black (ARR:3.5, 95%CI1.6-7.9) patients as well as those identified as non-Hispanic and in another or multiple racial groups (ARR:4.2, 95%CI:1.1–15.8). Overall, CVE prevalence was higher among patients with SLE than nationally (ASPR:3.1, 95%CI:3.0-3.1) but did not differ by sex. Compared with national race and ethnicity-stratified estimates, CVE among patients with SLE was highest among Hispanics/Latinos (ASPR:4.3, 95%CI:4.2–4.4). CVE was also elevated among SLE registry patients compared with all NYC residents. Comparisons with age-stratified national estimates revealed PRs of 6.4 (95%CI:6.2–6.5) among patients aged 20–49 years and 2.2 (95%CI:2.1–2.2) among those ≥ 50 years. Male (11.3, 95%CI:10.5–12.1), Hispanic/Latino (10.9, 95%CI:10.5–11.4) and non-Hispanic Black (6.2, 95%CI:6.0-6.4) SLE patients aged 20–49 had the highest CVE prevalence ratios.ConclusionsThese population-based estimates of CVE in a diverse registry of patients with SLE revealed increased rates among younger male, Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic Black patients. These findings reinforce the need to appropriately screen for CVD among all SLE patients but particularly among these high-risk patients.

Association between interpreter use and small for gestational age infants

BackgroundLimited English proficiency is associated with worse health outcomes regardless of health literacy. Prior research suggests that using interpreter services for low English proficiency helps mitigate the language barrier, is associated with improved health outcomes, and patient satisfaction; however, obstetric and neonatal outcomes and pregnancy risks in this population are not well studied. ObjectivesThe primary purpose of this study was to determine if low English proficiency is an independent risk factor for small for gestational age infants by utilizing interpreter use as a proxy for low English proficiency. Due to the known challenges in communication with a language barrier and discrimination against people whose first language is not English, we hypothesized that this could result in an increase in high risk conditions in pregnancy such as SGA. Our hypothesis was that the need for an interpreter would be associated with having small for gestational age infants. Study DesignWe performed a retrospective cohort study at a single center using data between 1/1/2016 and 12/31/2021; we included singleton, live births ≥ 21 weeks gestation. We excluded multiple gestations, intrauterine fetal demise, and delivery < 21 weeks. The primary outcome was rate of small for gestational age. Small for gestational age was defined as birthweight < 10th percentile for gestational age using the 2018 Fenton newborn growth curve. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for confounding variables. ResultsOf the 26,260 patients included in the study, 71.3% were non-Hispanic White, 9.5% were Hispanic/Latino, and 7.9% were non-Hispanic Black. Overall, 1,662 (6.3%) patients utilized an interpreter. Over half (58.0%) of patients requesting interpreter services were Hispanic. In unadjusted analyses, the rate of small for gestational age was not different between patients who used interpreter services (n=106, 6.4%) and those who did not (n=1612, 6.6 %), P=.779. After adjusting for race/ethnicity, gravidity, gestational age, private insurance, diabetes, hypertension, and prepregnancy body mass index, the use of interpreter services was associated with decreased odds of small for gestational age (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53–0.84). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that use of an interpreter is associated with a lower incidence of small for gestational age when controlling for patient characteristics and social determinants of health. Additional research is required to explore this association, but our results indicate that recognizing demographic risk factors and providing patients with social resources such as access to interpreter services may positively impact obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Body mass index changes and their association with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a real-world analysis.

To study body mass index (BMI) changes among individuals aged 18-99 years with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using real-world data from the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network of the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, we compared changes over time in BMI in an Exposed cohort (positive SARS-CoV-2 test between March 2020-January 2022), to a contemporary Unexposed cohort (negative SARS-CoV-2 tests), and an age/sex-matched Historical control cohort (March 2018-January 2020). BMI (kg/m2) was retrieved from objective measures of height and weight in electronic health records. We used target trial approaches to estimate BMI at start of follow-up and change per 100 days of follow-up for Unexposed and Historical cohorts relative to the Exposed cohort by categories of sex, race & ethnicity, age, and hospitalization status. The study sample consisted of 249,743 participants (19.2% Exposed, 61.5% Unexposed, 19.3% Historical cohort) of whom 62% were women, 21.5% Non-Hispanic Black, 21.4% Hispanic and 5.6% Non-Hispanic other and had an average age of 51.9 years (SD: 18.9). At start of follow-up, relative to the Unexposed cohort (mean BMI: 29.3 kg/m2 [95% CI: 29.1, 29.4]), the Exposed (0.07 kg/m2 [95% CI; 0.01, 0.12]) had higher mean BMI and Historical controls (-0.20 kg/m2 [95% CI; -0.25, -0.15]) had lower mean BMI. Over 100 days, BMI did not change (0 kg/m2 [95% CI: -0.03, 0.03]) for the Exposed cohort, decreased (-0.04 kg/m2 [95% CI; -0.05, -0.02]) for the Unexposed cohort and increased (0.03 kg/m2 [95% CI; 0.01, 0.04]) for the Historical cohort. Observed differences in BMI at start of follow-up and over 100 days were consistent between Unexposed and Exposed cohorts for most subgroups, except at start of follow-up period among Males and those 65 years or older who had lower BMI among Exposed. In a diverse real-world cohort of adults, mean BMI of those with and without SARS-CoV2 infection varied in their trajectories. The mechanisms and implications of weight retention following SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear.