Socioeconomic Disparities In Survival Research Articles

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in survival among patients with metastatic Non-Small cell lung cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have profoundly impacted survival among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, population-based studies evaluating this impact on survival by race and socioeconomic factors are lacking. We utilized the SEER-Medicare database to identify patients with metastatic NSCLC diagnosed between 2015 and 2019. The primary study outcomes were the receipt of an ICI and overall survival (OS). Chi-square tests and logistic regression were utilized to identify demographic factors associated with receipt of ICI. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate 2-year OS rates, and log-rank tests were used to compared survival by race/ethnicity. Out of 17,134 patients, approximately 39% received an ICI. Those diagnosed with cancer recently (in 2019), who are relatively younger (<85 years old), non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Asian, or Hispanic, living in high socioeconomic status or metropolitan areas, not Medicaid eligible, and with adenocarcinoma histology were more likely to receive ICI. The 2-year OS rate from diagnosis was 21% for the overall population. The 2-year OS rate from ICI initiation was 30%, among those who received at least one cycle and 11% among those who did not receive ICI. The 2-year OS rates were higher among non-Hispanic whites (22%) and non-Hispanic Asians (23%) compared to non-Hispanic Blacks (15%) and Hispanics (17%). There was no significant racial differences in survival for those who received ICI. ICI utilization rates and the resulting outcomes were inferior for certain vulnerable groups, mandating the need for strategies to improve access to care.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in survival among women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who received systemic therapy

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess the association between race/ethnicity and all-cause mortality among women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who received systemic therapy.MethodsWe analyzed data from the National Cancer Database on women diagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer from 2004 to 2015 who received systemic therapy. Race/ethnicity was categorized as Non-Hispanic (NH) White, NH-Black, Hispanic, NH-Asian/Pacific Islander, and Other. Income and education were combined to form a composite measure of socioeconomic status (SES) and categorized into low-, mid-, and high-SES. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess whether race/ethnicity was associated with the risk of death after adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment factors. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted by SES, age, and surgery receipt.ResultsThe study population comprised 53,367 women (52.4% ages ≥ 65 years, 82% NH-White, 8.7% NH-Black, 5.7% Hispanic, and 2.7% NH-Asian/Pacific Islander) in the analysis. After adjusting for covariates, the NH-Black race was associated with a higher risk of death versus NH-White race (aHR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.07,1.18), while Hispanic ethnicity was associated with a lower risk of death compared to NH-White women (aHR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.95). Furthermore, NH-Black women versus NH-White women had an increased risk of mortality among those with low-SES characteristics (aHR:1.12; 95% CI:1.03–1.22) and mid-SES groups (aHR: 1.13; 95% CI:1.05–1.21).ConclusionsAmong women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who received systemic therapy, NH-Black women experienced poorer survival compared to NH-White women. Future studies should be directed to identify drivers of ovarian cancer disparities, particularly racial differences in treatment response and surveillance.

Head and Neck Cutaneous Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Demonstrate Sex and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Incidence and Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival.

Background: Cutaneous soft-tissue sarcoma (CSTS) of the head and neck are rare and are known to have aggressive clinical course. The current study utilizes a population-based registry in the U.S. to characterize these malignancies and explore disparities. Methods: National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database from 2000 to 2018 was queried to report incidence and survival data in 4253 cases in the U.S. Results: Males were 5.37 times more likely and Non-Hispanic-White people (NHW) were 4.62 times more likely than females and Non-Hispanic-Black people (NHB) to develop CSTS of the head and neck. The overall incidence was 0.27 per 100,000 persons in 2018, with a significant increase since 2000. Advanced age and stage, histologic group other than ‘fibromatous sarcoma’ and lower SES groups were independent factors for worse overall survival. Conclusions: CSTS of the head and neck demonstrate sex and racial/ethnic disparities in incidence and socioeconomic disparities in overall survival. Level of evidence: II.

Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic survival disparities among children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated on upfront Children’s Oncology Group clinical trials.

10005 Background: Racial and socioeconomic disparities have not been comprehensively investigated in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR NBL). Prior Children’s Oncology Group (COG) investigations have demonstrated population-based disparities in late relapse rates among Black children, and trial-based disparities in relapse and survival among children living in poverty receiving post-consolidation immunotherapy. It is unknown whether these disparities persist in upfront trials for newly diagnosed patients. We leveraged COG data to investigate race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities in a cohort of children with HR NBL treated on upfront clinical trials from 2007-2016. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of children enrolled on upfront COG HR NBL trials ANBL0532, ANBL09P1, and ANBL12P1. Race and ethnicity were the primary exposures categorized as: Black Non-Hispanic (BNH); Hispanic; Other Non-Hispanic (ONH); or White Non-Hispanic (WNH). Poverty was the secondary exposure, defined as household (public insurance only vs others), area (census-defined high-poverty ZIP code with &gt;20% of population living below 100% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) vs &lt;20% below 100% FPL), and rural (Census-defined rurality measures linked to ZIP code). Overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survival from time of trial enrollment were plotted by Kaplan-Meier methods; associations with race/ethnicity and poverty were evaluated by log-rank tests. Results: Among 696 children, 16% were BNH, 11% Hispanic, 4% ONH, and 69% WNH. One-third (33%) of children were household poverty-exposed, 26% area poverty-exposed, and 15% rural-exposed. Tumor stage and biology did not differ by race/ethnicity or poverty measures. Five-year OS differed significantly by race/ethnicity (47% Hispanic vs. 50% ONH vs. 61% WNH vs. 62% BNH; p=0.047). Five-year OS was inferior among children exposed to household-poverty (53% vs. 63%; p=0.036) and neighborhood-poverty (54% vs. 62%; p=0.050) compared to unexposed children. There was no difference in OS by rurality. Similar directionality in 5-year EFS outcomes by race/ethnicity and poverty were observed without statistical significance. Conclusions: Race/ethnicity and poverty-exposure are associated with inferior OS outcomes among children with HR NBL despite uniform planned treatment on upfront COG trials. Investigation of mechanisms driving these disparities, including disparate early phase trial enrollment are ongoing to inform targeted health equity interventions to improve outcomes.

Ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in survival of children and adolescents with CNS tumors in Southern Israel.

This study sought to evaluate survival of pediatric and adolescent patients with central nervous system (CNS) cancer in southern Israel, outline disparities between ethnic and socioeconomic groups (Bedouin Arabs compared to Jews) and evaluate the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in ethnic disparities. A retrospective study was conducted among 91 patients aged one to 20 years, who were diagnosed with CNS tumors between 2001 and 2017, and followed-up through 2020. Ethnic differences in survival were measured by age, sex, stage, histology and SES. One and 3-year survival rates were calculated. Multivariable regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted ethnic differences in survival rates. Ethnic differences in survival existed within all studied variables. All Bedouin patients lived in low SES settlements (All Bedouin settlement in Southern Israel are ranked in lower socioeconomic deciles). Twenty-eight patients had medulloblastoma. Seven (25%) presented with leptomeningeal disease or distant metastases. Medulloblastoma molecular subgroups were not assessed for logistic reasons. Three-year overall survival of Bedouins was 50% compared to 92.3% for Jews. Adjusted risk of death at 3 years was significantly higher for Bedouin patients (aHR 3.36, 95% CI 1.41-7.98, P = .006). We conclude that Bedouin children with CNS tumors have significantly lower survival rates compared to Jewish children, and SES seems to play a major part in these disparities. Factors influencing these disparities should be addressed and public health interventions to eliminate these disparities should be developed.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation and Mortality in Children with Central Nervous System Tumors.

Although there is evidence of socioeconomic disparities in survival of children diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation on the survival of these malignancies has not been adequately studied. We investigated the association between area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and pediatric CNS tumor survival. Demographic and clinical characteristics, geocoded addresses at diagnosis, and vital status of pediatric CNS tumor cases (n = 5,477) for the period 1995 to 2017 were obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. ADI scores were computed for census tracts in Texas using the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 geography. Tracts were classified into quartiles as least, third-most, second-most, and most disadvantaged. Children were mapped to quartiles based on residency at diagnosis. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The results showed a significantly increased HR for death among children in the most (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.51), second-most (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.38), and third-most disadvantaged census tracts (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37) compared with children in the least disadvantaged tracts. Children living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced a significantly higher risk of mortality, indicating the important role of socioeconomic disparities in the survival of pediatric CNS tumors. The demographic and socioeconomic disparities identified by this study should be considered when planning treatment strategies for these susceptible groups and thus, lead to a better outcome in socioeconomically disadvantaged children diagnosed with CNS tumors.

Socioeconomic disparities in survival after high-risk neuroblastoma treatment with modern therapy.

Modern therapeutic advances in high-risk neuroblastoma have improved overall survival (OS), but it is unclear whether these survival gains have been equitable. This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and overall survival (OS) in children with high-risk neuroblastoma and whether SES-associated disparities have changed over time. In this population-based cohort study, children <18years diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma (diagnosis at age ≥12months with metastatic disease) from 1991 to 2015 were identified through the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Associations of county-level SES variables and OS were tested with univariate Cox proportional hazards regression. For a subcohort diagnosed after 2007, insurance status was examined as an individual-level SES variable. Multivariable regression analyses with treatment era and interaction terms were performed when SES variables reached near-significance (p≤.1) in univariate and bivariate modeling with treatment era. Among 1217 children, 2-year OS improved from 53.0 ± 3.4% in 1991-1998 to 76.9 ± 2.9% in 2011-2015 (p<.001). In univariate analyses, children in high-poverty counties (hazard ratio [HR]=1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.17-2.60, p=.007), and those with Medicaid (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.05-1.86, p=.02) experienced an increased hazard of death. No interactions between treatment era and SES variables were statistically significant in multivariable analyses, indicating that differences in the OS between SES groups did not change over time. Survival disparities among children with high-risk neuroblastoma have not widened over time, suggesting equitable access to and benefit from therapeutic advances. However, children of low SES experience persistently inferior survival. Interventions to narrow this disparity are paramount.

Association of the Affordable Care Act with survival among adolescents and young adults with lymphomas in California.

6532 Background: Our recent study showed that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was associated with increased health insurance coverage among adolescents and young adults (AYAs, 15–39 years) diagnosed with lymphomas in California and decreased likelihood of late stage at diagnosis. However, AYAs of Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity (vs Whites) and those living in lower socioeconomic (SES) neighborhoods were at higher risk of presenting with advanced stage. We aimed to determine whether the increased insurance coverage under the ACA was associated with improved survival, and to identify the main predictors of survival among AYAs with lymphomas. Methods: We used data from the California Cancer Registry linked to Medicaid enrollment files on AYAs diagnosed with a primary non-Hodgkin (NHL) or Hodgkin (HL) lymphoma during March 2005–September 2010 (pre-ACA), October 2010–December 2013 (early ACA) or 2014–2017 (full ACA). Patients were followed from lymphoma diagnosis until death, loss to follow-up or end of the study (12/31/2018). Health insurance was categorized as continuous Medicaid, discontinuous Medicaid, Medicaid enrollment at diagnosis/uninsured, other public or private. We used multivariable Cox proportional regression to examine the associations between all-cause survival and era of diagnosis, adjusting for sex, age and stage at diagnosis, health insurance, race/ethnicity, neighborhood SES, treatment facility, comorbidities, and marital status. Results: Of 11,221 AYAs, 5,878 were diagnosed with NHL and 5,343 with HL. Most patients were male (56%), White (45%), presented with earlier stage (I/II, 56%), and had private insurance (57%). The proportion of AYAs who received initial care at National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers (NCI-CCs) increased from 24% pre-ACA to 31% after full ACA implementation (p &lt; 0.001). AYAs diagnosed in the early (aHR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.67–0.88) and full ACA (aHR = 0.55, 95%CI 0.47–0.64) eras had better survival than those diagnosed pre-ACA. Compared to those with private insurance, survival was worse among patients with no insurance (HR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.83–2.49), discontinuous Medicaid (HR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.83–2.56) and continuous Medicaid (HR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.63–2.29) at diagnosis. Regardless of their insurance, older AYAs, males, unmarried, those with later stage (II–IV), residents in lower SES neighborhoods, and those of Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaskan Native race/ethnicity experienced worse survival. Conclusions: Following the ACA implementation in California, AYAs diagnosed with lymphomas experienced increased access to care at NCI-CCs and improved survival. Yet, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic survival disparities persisted. Moving forward, policy actions are required to mitigate structural and social determinants of health disparities in this population.

Deprivation gap in colorectal cancer survival attributable to stage at diagnosis: A population-based study in Spain

ObjectiveSocioeconomic inequalities in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival are a major concern of the Spanish public health system. If these inequalities were mainly due to differences in stage at diagnosis, population-based screening programs might reduce them substantially. We aimed to determine to what extent adverse stage distribution contributed to survival inequalities in a Spanish region before the implementation of a CRC screening program. MethodsWe analyzed data from a population-based cohort study that included all patients living in a region of southern Spain with CRC diagnosed between 2004 and 2013. The European Deprivation Index was used to assign each patient a socioeconomic level based on their area of residence. The role of tumor stage in survival disparities between socioeconomic groups was assessed using a causal mediation analysis. ResultsA total of 2802 men and 1957 women were included in the study. For men, the adjusted difference in deaths between the most deprived and the most affluent areas was 131 deaths per 1000 person-years by the first year after diagnosis. Of these deaths, 42 (per 1000 person-years) were attributable to differences in stage at diagnosis. No socioeconomic disparities in survival were detected among female patients. ConclusionsIn this study, we mainly detected socioeconomic disparities in short term survival of male patients. More than two thirds of these inequalities could not be attributed to differences in stage at diagnosis. Our results suggest that in addition to a screening program, other public health interventions are necessary to reduce the deprivation gap in survival.

Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities and Survival of Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

To investigate differences in epidemiology of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) with regards to human papillomavirus (HPV), race, and socioeconomic status (SES) using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Population-based cohort study. Racial and socioeconomic disparities in survival of OPSCC have been previously acknowledged. However, the distribution of HPV-related cancers and its influence on survival in conjunction with race and SES remain unclear. All patients with OPSCC in the NCDB with known HPV status from 2010 to 2016 were included. Differences in presentation, HPV status, treatment, and outcomes were compared along racial and socioeconomic lines. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression survival analyses were performed. In total, 45,940 patients met criteria. Most were male (38,038, 82.8%), older than 60 years (23,456, 51.5%), and white (40,156, 87.4%), and lived in higher median income areas (>$48,000, 28,587, 62.2%). Two-thirds were HPV positive (31,007, 67.5%). HPV-negative disease was significantly more common in lower SES (<$38,000, 2937, 41.5%, P < .001) and among blacks (1784, 55.3%, P < .001). Median follow-up was 33 months. Five-year overall survival was 81.3% (95% CI, 80.5%-82.1%) and 59.6% (95% CI, 58.2%-61.0%) in HPV-positive and HPV-negative groups, respectively. In univariable and multivariable analyses controlling for HPV status, age, stage, and treatment, black race (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.11-1.34; P < .001) and low SES (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.45-1.72; P < .001) were associated with worse survival. Significant differences in HPV status exist between socioeconomic and racial groups, with HPV-negative disease more common among blacks and lower SES. When controlling for HPV status, race and SES still influence outcomes in oropharyngeal cancers.

Dissecting Disease, Race, Ethnicity, And Socioeconomic Factors For Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Analysis From The United States Safety Net Collaborative

Presenter: Rachel Lee MD, MSPH | Emory University Background: Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities are assumed to negatively affect treatment and outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to investigate the interaction of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic factors with stage of disease and type of treatment facility in receipt of treatment and overall survival (OS) of patients with HCC. Methods: We included all patients with primary HCC in the US Safety-Net Collaborative database(2012-2014), which is comprised of five highly select, geographically diverse safety-net hospitals (SNH) and their corresponding quaternary-referral center. Patients were categorized into “safety-net” or “academic” based on where they received treatment. Socioeconomic factors were determined at the zip-code level and included median income, and percent of adults who graduated from high-school. Primary outcomes were receipt of treatment and OS. Results: 1832pts were included. Average age was 61yrs and 77%(n=1405) were male. 57%(n=1039) were treated at academic and 43%(n=793) at safety-net hospitals. Patients treated at SNH were younger(59vs63yrs), less likely to be white(40vs65%), and more likely to be uninsured(27vs4%), have lower median income($43,001vs$52,598), and live in areas in which fewer adults graduated from high school(84vs76%)(all p<0.001). SNH patients were more likely to have a history of alcohol abuse(51vs40%) and to present with stage IV disease(25vs14%); they were less likely to have been previously radiographically screened(17vs27%) or to receive treatment (65vs83%)(all p<0.001). SNH patients had decreased 5-year OS compared to their academic counterparts (24vs37%,p<0.001). On MV Cox regression, neither race/ethnicity, median income, nor care provided at a SNH were directly associated with decreased OS (all p>0.05). Independent predictors of decreased OS included having no insurance(HR 1.34), less educational attainment (HR 1.59) higher MELD score(HR 1.07), higher stage at diagnosis(II:HR 1.34, III:HR 2.87, IV:HR 3.23), and not receiving treatment (HR 3.94)(all p<0.05). Factors associated with not receiving treatment on MV analysis included history of alcohol abuse(HR 0.682), increasing MELD(HR 0.874), and higher stage at diagnosis(III: HR 0.234, IV: HR 0.210). Although these characteristics were more common in patients treated at SNH, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status as measured by income and education, and treatment at a SNH were not associated with receipt of treatment. Of patients who actually received treatment, there were no racial/ethnic or socioeconomic disparities in survival. Instead, survival was dictated by MELD, treatment modality, and stage at presentation. Patients who were screened were more likely to present with stage I disease(62vs39%) and to receive treatment(86vs72%, all p<0.001), both important factors associated with improved survival. Conclusion: The interplay of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, disease biology, and the condition of the host liver is complex as it relates to treatment and outcomes of patients with HCC. While there is overlap amongst all these factors, there is no intrinsic or direct association of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or being treated at select safety-net hospitals with worse outcomes. Poor liver function, no insurance, and advanced stage of presentation are the main determinants of not receiving treatment and decreased survival. Efforts directed towards education, government aid, and screening programs for vulnerable and at-risk patients who receive their care at safety-net hospitals are needed.

Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic survival disparities for children and adolescents with central nervous system tumours in the United States, 2000–2015

Background and objectivesCentral nervous system (CNS) malignancy is the commonest cause of cancer death in children and adolescents (0–19 years) in high-income settings. There is limited data on survival inequalities by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position (SEP), for young patients, we aim to analyse their influence on survival from childhood CNS tumour. Methods9577 children and adolescents diagnosed with primary malignant CNS tumours during 2000–2015, followed up until Dec 31 st, 2015, and reported to cancer registries (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results programme) were included in the analysis. Cox regression models estimated the hazard ratios for race/ethnicity, SEP, and individual insurance status, adjusting for sex, age, diagnostic period, and tumour type. Individual-level insurance status data were available from 2007. Results62.5 % children and adolescents were non-Hispanic White, 10.6 % were non-Hispanic Black and 26.9 % were Hispanic. Race/ethnicity was strongly associated with survival (p < 0.001), even after adjusting for SEP, with Black (HR = 1.39 [95 %CI 1.23–1.58]) and Hispanic children (HR = 1.40 [95 %CI 1.28–1.54]) having higher hazards of death than White children. This association remained after adjusting for insurance status. There was an apparent positive association between SEP and survival that was largely attenuated after adjustment for insurance status (p = 0.20). Survival was comparable between those privately and Medicaid-insured. ConclusionsNon-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children had lower survival than their White counterparts. This association, not fully explained by differences in SEP, tumour subtype or health insurance, could be related to racially/ethnically-driven barriers to optimal healthcare, warranting further investigation.

Area-Based Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival of Children with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report from the Children's Oncology Group

Introduction: Income, education, and health insurance coverage have been shown to influence access to appropriate oncology care, impacting detection and treatment. We sought to evaluate the role of area-based measures of socioeconomic status in contributing to outcome disparities on the two most recent Children's Oncology Group (COG) Phase 3 clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), AAML0531 and AAML1031. We hypothesized that pediatric AML patients from low income and low education zip codes have inferior five-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) relative to patients from middle income and more educated zip codes. Methods: Patients enrolled on AAML0531 and AAML1031 were included. Patients with Down syndrome (n=5), FLT3/ITD high allelic ratio (n=264), in AAML1031 Arm D (n=332), and patients whose zip code was not able to be mapped to a US Census area were excluded (n=60). Patients were observed from enrollment on study through last available follow up. Zip code level median annual household income was the primary exposure and was categorized as follows: Poverty: &amp;lt;$24,250 (federal poverty line); Low: $24,250-56,516; Middle/High &amp;gt;$56,516. Secondary exposures of interest included zip code level educational attainment and insurance type (Medicaid Only vs other insurance) at AML diagnosis. Standard descriptive statistics were used to compare patient characteristics by levels of exposure; the Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate OS (defined as time from study entry to death) and EFS (time from study entry until failure to achieve CR during induction, relapse, or death). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for OS and EFS. Measures of association were adjusted for known risk factors for mortality including cytogenetic/mutation risk group, gemtuzumab (GO) receipt, race, and age. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for early mortality (defined as death during induction). Results: Of 2387 patients enrolled on AAML0531 and AAML1031, 1726 met inclusion criteria for the overall analysis. Due to missing covariate data, 1467 patients were included in the final model. Race/ethnicity differed significantly by area-based income, area-based education, and insurance type with a higher proportion of Black and Hispanic patients living in poverty, low income, and low education areas, and having Medicaid only insurance. Lower area-based income was associated with lower OS (43% in poverty vs. 61% in low income vs. 68% in middle/high income; p = 0.004) and EFS (34% in poverty vs. 46% in low income vs. 54% in middle/high income; p = 0.005), shown in Figure 1. Lower area-based educational attainment was also associated with lower OS (58% in Quartile 4 (lower education) vs. 70% in Quartile 1 (higher education); p = 0.005 across quartiles) and EFS (44% in Q4 vs. 54% in Q1; p = 0.03 across quartiles). Patients with Medicaid Only insurance had lower OS (59 ± 5% vs. 66 ± 3%: p = 0.01) but similar EFS (48 ± 5% vs. 50 ± 3%: p = 0.33). In a full multivariable model, differences in survival by area-based educational attainment and insurance type resolved suggesting that observed crude associations were explained by confounding by area-based income combined with established risk factors. Patients from middle/high income areas experienced 25% lower risk of mortality compared to patients from low income areas (OS: crude HR 0.74 95% CI 0.62, 0.89; adjusted HR 0.79 95% CI 0.63, 0.99) with similar differences in EFS (crude HR 0.79 95% CI 0.69, 0.92; adjusted HR 0.77 95% CI 0.65, 0.89). There was no meaningful confounding of the income-survival association detected as evidenced by unchanged magnitudes of association following adjustment for area-based education, insurance, and established risk factors. Area-based low income was associated with both higher risk of early death (crude OR: 2.43 95% CI 1.04, 5.69) and treatment-related mortality on therapy (11.1 ± 10.5% vs. 3.7 ± 2.5%, p = 0.03) compared to area-based middle/high income. Conclusions: Lower area-based income and education were associated with significantly inferior EFS and OS among patients with AML on the last two Phase 3 COG trials. Moreover, zip-code based low SES is an independent risk factor for mortality in pediatric AML. Additional studies to understand mechanisms of observed socioeconomic disparities in treatment outcomes will inform interventions that may mitigate these inequities. Disclosures Fisher: Pfizer: Research Funding; Astellas: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board Chair for an antifungal study; Merck: Research Funding.

Contributions of prognostic factors to socioeconomic disparities in cancer survival: protocol for analysis of a cohort with linked data

IntroductionSocioeconomic disparities in cancer survival have been reported in many developed countries, including Australia. Although some international studies have investigated the determinants of these socioeconomic disparities, most previous Australian studies...

OA16.05 Socioeconomic Determinants of Late Diagnosis of Lung Cancer in France: A Nationwide Study (the TERRITOIRE Study)

Socioeconomic disparities in survival of patients with lung cancer have been identified in many countries. The aim of this study was to examine determinants of late diagnosis of lung cancer in France. All patients with a first diagnosis of lung cancer in 2011 in the National hospitals databases were included. Information on gender, age, presence of metastasis at diagnosis and any significant chronic comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, and other chronic lung diseases) was retrieved. Based on municipality of residence, patients were classified by population density, social deprivation, access to general practitioners and pulmonologists. We identified 41,015 patients newly diagnosed for lung cancer in French hospitals. Mean age at diagnosis was 66.4 (±11.9) years and 72% patients were men. 53% (N=21,613) patients were metastatic at the time of diagnosis. This rate was higher for patients in public compared to private hospitals (56.1% vs 42.9%, p<0.0001) and in community compared to university hospitals (60.2% vs 49.6%, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis found that metastases at the time of diagnosis were significantly associated with a younger age (55 years or less, OR: 1.22 [95%CI:1.16–1.29]; p<0.0001), a low access to pulmonologists (OR: 1.13 [95%CI:1.04–1.23]; p=0.004), a rural or semi-rural dwelling (OR: 1.07 [95%CI:1.02–1.13]; p=0.004) and deprived areas (OR: 1.06 [95%CI:1.01–1.11]; p=0.01). Of the 8,413 patients (20%) who were initially admitted through emergency room (ER) 68.1% had metastatic tumors. Multivariate analysis showed significantly higher rate of admission through ER at diagnosis in patients from most deprived areas (OR: 1.44 [95%CI:1.37–1.52]; p 0.0001), rural or semi-rural (OR: 1.25 [95%CI:1.19–1.32]; p<0.0001), with a low access to pulmonologists and general practitioners (OR: 1.24 [95%CI:1.17–1.30]; p<0.0001 and 1.15 [95%CI:1.08–1.23]; p<0.0001, respectively). Gender (male) and presence of comorbidities were also significant determinants of metastatic disease and admission through ER at diagnosis. A majority of French patients with lung cancer were initially metastatic at the time of diagnosis and 1 out of 5 were diagnosed following admission through ER. Residential socioeconomic indicators and access to general practitioners and pulmonologists were significantly associated with these indicators of poor outcome.

Impact of geographic area level on measuring socioeconomic disparities in cancer survival in New South Wales, Australia: A period analysis

BackgroundArea-based socioeconomic measures are widely used in health research. In theory, the larger the area used the more individual misclassification is introduced, thus biasing the association between such area level measures and health outcomes. In this study, we examined the socioeconomic disparities in cancer survival using two geographic area-based measures to see if the size of the area matters. MethodsWe used population-based cancer registry data for patients diagnosed with one of 10 major cancers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia during 2004–2008. Patients were assigned index measures of socioeconomic status (SES) based on two area-level units, census Collection District (CD) and Local Government Area (LGA) of their address at diagnosis. Five-year relative survival was estimated using the period approach for patients alive during 2004–2008, for each socioeconomic quintile at each area-level for each cancer. Poisson-regression modelling was used to adjust for socioeconomic quintile, sex, age-group at diagnosis and disease stage at diagnosis. The relative excess risk of death (RER) by socioeconomic quintile derived from this modelling was compared between area-units. ResultsWe found extensive disagreement in SES classification between CD and LGA levels across all socioeconomic quintiles, particularly for more disadvantaged groups. In general, more disadvantaged patients had significantly lower survival than the least disadvantaged group for both CD and LGA classifications. The socioeconomic survival disparities detected by CD classification were larger than those detected by LGA. Adjusted RER estimates by SES were similar for most cancers when measured at both area levels. ConclusionsWe found that classifying patient SES by the widely used Australian geographic unit LGA results in underestimation of survival disparities for several cancers compared to when SES is classified at the geographically smaller CD level. Despite this, our RER of death estimates derived from these survival estimates were generally similar for both CD and LGA level analyses, suggesting that LGAs remain a valuable spatial unit for use in Australian health and social research, though the potential for misclassification must be considered when interpreting research. While data confidentiality concerns increase with the level of geographical precision, the use of smaller area-level health and census data in the future, with appropriate allowance for confidentiality

Impact of Treatment and Insurance on Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival after Adolescent and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Population-Based Study.

Previous studies documented racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in survival after Hodgkin lymphoma among adolescents and young adults (AYA), but did not consider the influence of combined-modality treatment and health insurance. Data for 9,353 AYA patients ages 15 to 39 years when diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during 1988 to 2011 were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. Using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, we examined the impact of sociodemographic characteristics [race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), and health insurance], initial combined-modality treatment, and subsequent cancers on survival. Over the 24-year study period, we observed improvements in Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival by diagnostic period and differences in survival by race/ethnicity, neighborhood SES, and health insurance for a subset of more recently diagnosed patients (2001-2011). In multivariable analyses, Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival was worse for Blacks than Whites with early-stage [HR: 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-2.49] and late-stage disease (HR: 1.68; 95% CI, 1.17-2.41) and for Hispanics than Whites with late-stage disease (HR: 1.58; 95% CI, 1.22-2.04). AYAs diagnosed with early-stage disease experienced worse survival if they also resided in lower SES neighborhoods (HR: 2.06; 95% CI, 1.59-2.68). Furthermore, more recently diagnosed AYAs with public health insurance or who were uninsured experienced worse Hodgkin lymphoma-specific survival (HR: 2.08; 95% CI, 1.52-2.84). Our findings identify several subgroups of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at higher risk for Hodgkin lymphoma mortality. Identifying and reducing barriers to recommended treatment and surveillance in these AYAs at much higher risk of mortality is essential to ameliorating these survival disparities.

Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in survival among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in California, 1988-2011: A population-based observational study.

Despite advances in treatment, survival from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains lower among non-White children than White children in the US. We investigated the association of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) with survival. We analyzed 9,295 Californian children (3,251 Whites, 4,890 Hispanics, 796 Asians, and 358 Blacks) aged ≤ 19 years diagnosed with a first primary ALL during 1988-2011. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate survival at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis for three calendar periods. Hazard ratios of death for race/ethnicity, SES, and clinical factors were estimated by Cox regression models. Median follow-up time was 7.4 years (range 0-25 years). Over time, survival after ALL improved steadily, but inequalities persisted across races/ethnicities. Five-year survival (95% confidence interval) was 85.0% (83.6-86.2) for White, 81.4% (78.3-84.0) for Asian, 79.0% (77.8-80.2) for Hispanic, and 74.4% (69.4-78.8) for Black children. In multivariable-adjusted models, the hazard of death was increased by 57% among Black, 38% among Hispanic, and 33% among Asian children compared with White children. Patients residing in the lowest SES neighborhoods at diagnosis had a 39% increased risk of death relative to those living in higher SES neighborhoods. Despite significant improvements in survival, non-White children and children residing in low SES neighborhoods experienced worse survival even after adjusting for potential confounders. Our findings highlight the need to capture specific information on disease biology, treatment, and treatment adherence to better understand the predictors of lower survival in minority and low SES groups.

Do stage of disease, comorbidity or access to treatment explain socioeconomic differences in survival after ovarian cancer? – A cohort study among Danish women diagnosed 2005–2010

AimsIn order to reduce social inequality in cancer survival, knowledge is needed about where in the cancer trajectory disparities occur, and how social and health-related aspects may interact. We aimed to determine whether socioeconomic factors are related to cancer diagnosis stage, and whether socioeconomic disparities in survival after ovarian cancer can be explained by socioeconomic differences in cancer stage, comorbidity, treatment or lifestyle factors. MethodsIn the Danish Gynaecological Cancer Database we identified 2873 cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2010. From this data we retrieved information on prognostic factors, treatment information and lifestyle factors. Age, vital status, comorbidity, education, income and cohabitation status were ascertained from nationwide administrative registers. Associations were analyzed with logistic regression and Cox regression models. ResultsEducational level was weakly associated with cancer stage. Short education, lower income and living without a partner were related to poorer survival after ovarian cancer. Among women with early cancer stage, HR (95% CI) for death was 1.75 (1.20–2.54) in shorter compared to longer educated women. After adjustment for comorbid conditions, cancer stage, tumour histology, operation status and lifestyle factors, socioeconomic differences in survival persisted. ConclusionsSocioeconomic disparities in survival after ovarian cancer were to some extent, but not fully explained by differences in important prognostic factors, suggesting further investigations into this problem, however implying that socially less advantaged ovarian cancer patients should receive attention during cancer treatment and rehabilitation.

Socioeconomic disparities in survival from childhood leukemia in the United States and globally: a meta-analysis

Despite advancements in the treatment of childhood leukemia, socioeconomic status (SES) may potentially affect disease prognosis. This study aims to evaluate whether SES is associated with survival from childhood leukemia. The US National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) 1973-2010 data were analyzed; thereafter, results were meta-analyzed along with those from survival (cohort) studies examining the association between SES indices and survival from childhood leukemia (end-of-search date: 31 March 2014). Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect estimates (relative risks, RRs); meta-regression was also used. We included 29 studies yielding 28 804 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3208 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 27 650 'any' leukemia (denoting joint reporting of all subtypes) cases. According to individual-level composite SES indices, children from low SES suffered from nearly twofold higher death rates from ALL (pooled RR: 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.00-3.34, based on four study arms); likewise, death RRs derived from an array of lower area-level SES indices ranged between 1.17 and 1.33 (based on 11 study arms). Importantly, the survival gap between higher and lower SES seemed wider in the United States, with considerably (by 20%-82%) increased RRs for death from ALL in lower SES. Regarding AML, poorer survival was evident only when area-level SES indices were used. Lastly, remoteness indices were not associated with survival from childhood leukemia. Children with lower SES suffering childhood leukemia do not seem to equally enjoy the impressive recent survival gains. Special health policy strategies and increased awareness of health providers might minimize the effects of socioeconomic disparities.