Abstract 4230: Influence of sociodemographic factors on treatment decisions in lung cancer
Authors: Duma Narjust , Durani Urshila , Frank Ryan , Paludo Jonas , Westin Gustavo , Lou Yanyan , Konstantinos Leventakos , Molina Julian , Go Ronald , Mansfield Aaron , Ailawadhi Sikander , Adjei Alex 
Published: August 2018

Background: In stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), survival has significantly improved with the use of novel therapies and better supportive care. Despite such trends, it has been noted that patients (pts) frequently refuse cancer treatment. Therefore, we explored the factors associated with treatment refusal in pts with stage IV NSCLC.

Methods: Utilizing the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we identified all incident cases with stage IV NSCLC from 2004 to 2014. Patients who received cancer treatment outside of the reporting facility or died before receiving treatment were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations with treatment refusal.

Results: A total of 341,993 pts were identified. On average, 5.4% of pts refused radiation therapy and 10.3% refused chemotherapy despite provider recommendations. The proportion of pts refusing radiation and chemotherapy increased over the study period from 4.2% to 7.3% and 7.9% to 15%, respectively (p&lt;0.001 for both). In multivariable analysis, men were less likely to refuse radiation or chemotherapy compared to women (OR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.76-0.83, p&lt;0.001; OR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.81-0.86, p&lt;0.001, respectively). Factors associated with radiation therapy refusal included: Medicaid or Medicare as primary insurance (OR: 1.95, 95%CI: 1.76-2.15, p&lt;0.001; OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.17-1.34, p&lt;0.001, respectively) or a &gt;2 Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR: 1.97, 95%CI: 1.85-2.10, p&lt;0.001). Moreover, receiving care at an academic center (OR: 0.57, 95%CI: 0.53-0.62, p&lt;0.001) was associated with less likelihood of refusing radiation. Regarding chemotherapy, uninsured pts (OR: 2.45, 95%CI: 2.26-2.66, p&lt;0.001), pts with Medicaid as primary insurance (OR: 2.17, 95%CI: 2.03-2.32, p&lt;0.001) or with a high comorbidity index (OR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.68-1.84, p&lt;0.001) were more likely to refuse chemotherapy. Contrary to findings from previous studies, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to refuse chemotherapy compared to non-Hispanic whites (OR: 0.86, 95%CI: 0.82-0.91, p&lt;0.001; OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.72-0.89, p&lt;0.001). Patients receiving care at an academic center and residing in high income neighborhoods were less likely to refuse chemotherapy (OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.72-0.80, p&lt;0.001; OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.71-0.81, p&lt;0.001, respectively). Distance from residence to treating facility and living in a rural county did not affect treatment refusal.

Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors rather than race/ethnicity appear to influence refusal of cancer treatment in pts with stage IV NSCLC in the NCDB. Assessing socioeconomic challenges should be an essential part of patients' evaluation when discussing treatment options.

Citation Format: Narjust Duma, Urshila Durani, Ryan Frank, Jonas Paludo, Gustavo Westin, Yanyan Lou, Leventakos Konstantinos, Julian Molina, Ronald Go, Aaron Mansfield, Sikander Ailawadhi, Alex Adjei. Influence of sociodemographic factors on treatment decisions in lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4230.