bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Medicaid expansion on two-year mortality among stage IV breast cancer (BC) patients according to race.
Authors: Malinowski Catalina , Lei Xiudong , Zhao Hui , Giordano Sharon H. , Chavez Mac Gregor Mariana 
Published: June 2021

6525 Background: Inadequate access to healthcare services is associated with worse outcomes. Disparities in access to cancer care are more frequently seen among racial/ethnic minorities, uninsured patients, and those with low socioeconomic status. A provision in the Affordable Care Act called for expansion of Medicaid eligibility in order to cover more low-income Americans. In this study, we evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion in 2-year mortality among metastatic BC patients according to race. Methods: Women (aged 40-64) diagnosed with metastatic BC (stage IV de novo) between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2015 and residing in states that underwent Medicaid expansion in 01/2014 were identified in the National Cancer Database. For comparison purposes, 2010-2013 was considered the pre-expansion period and 2014-2015 the post-expansion period. We calculated 2-year mortality difference-in-difference (DID) estimates between White and non-White patients using multivariable linear regression models. Results are presented as adjusted differences (in % points) between groups in the pre- and post-expansion periods and as adjusted DID with 95%CI. Covariates included age, comorbidity, BC subtype, insurance type, transfer of care, distance to hospital, region, residence area, education, income quartile, facility type and facility volume. In addition, overall survival (OS) was evaluated in pre- and post-expansion periods via Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models; results are presented as 2-year OS estimates, hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% CIs. Results: Among 7,675 patients included, 4,942 were diagnosed in the pre- and 2,733 in the post-expansion period. We observed a reduction in 2-year mortality rates in both groups according to Medicaid expansion. Among Whites 2-year mortality decreased from 42.5% to 38.7% and among non-Whites from 45.4% to 36.4%, resulting in an adjusted DID of -5.2% (95%CI -9.8 to -0.6, p = 0.027). A greater reduction in 2-year mortality was observed among non-Whites in a sub-analysis of patients who resided in the poorest quartile (n = 1372), with an adjusted DID of -14.6% (95%CI -24.8 to -4.4, p = 0.005). In the multivariable Cox model, during the pre-expansion period there was an increased risk of death for non-Whites compared to Whites (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26, P = 0.04), however no differences were seen in the post-expansion period between the two groups (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.07, P = 0.31). Conclusions: Medicaid expansion reduced racial disparities by decreasing the 2-year mortality of non-White patients with metastatic breast cancer and reducing the gap when compared to Whites. These results highlight the positive impact of policies aimed at improving equity and increasing access to health care.
Financial toxicity, symptom burden, illness perceptions, and communication confidence in cancer clinical trial participants.
Authors: Perni Subha , Gorton Emily , Park Elyse R , Chabner Bruce Allan , Moy Beverly , Nipp Ryan David 
Published: June 2021

6526 Background: Cancer clinical trial (CCT) participants are at high risk for experiencing adverse effects from financial toxicity, yet this remains understudied in the CCT population. We sought to describe associations among patient-reported financial toxicity (financial burden [FB] and trial cost concerns), physical and psychological symptoms, illness perceptions, and communication confidence in CCT participants. Methods: From 7/2015-7/2017, we prospectively enrolled CCT participants who expressed interest in financial assistance and a group of patients matched by age, sex, cancer type, specific trial, and trial phase. We assessed FB (burdened by costs of cancer care), trial cost concerns (worried about affording medical costs of a CCT), physical (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale [ESAS]) and psychological (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]) symptoms, illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire [BIPQ]), and communication confidence (Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions [PEPPI]). We used regression models to explore sociodemographic associations with FB and trial cost concerns, and to examine associations of FB and trial cost concerns with patients’ symptom burden, illness perceptions, and communication confidence, adjusting for age, sex, race, performance status, marital status, and metastatic status. Results: Of 198 patients enrolled, 112 (56.6%) reported FB and 82 (41.4%) had trial cost concerns. Patients with FB were younger (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98) and had lower incomes ( < $100,000, OR 4.61, 95% CI 2.35-9.01). Patients reporting trial cost concerns also had lower incomes ( < $100,000, OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.45-5.29). On adjusted analyses, patients with FB had higher ESAS total (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05), ESAS physical (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.07), PHQ-4 depression (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.22-1.94), and PHQ-4 anxiety (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.55) scores, as well as more negative illness perceptions (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07), but no significant difference in communication confidence (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.93-1.05). Patients reporting trial cost concerns had higher ESAS total (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05), ESAS physical (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06), PHQ-4 depression (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.65), and PHQ-4 anxiety (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07-1.51) scores, as well as more negative illness perceptions (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10), and lower communication confidence (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.99). Conclusions: In this study of CCT participants, younger patients with lower incomes were most vulnerable to financial toxicity. Financial toxicity was associated with greater symptom burden, more negative illness perceptions, and lower communication confidence, which underscores the importance of addressing these issues when seeking to alleviate the adverse effects of financial toxicity in CCT participants.
Disparities in cancer prevalence in African Americans: A United States population study 2021.
Authors: Kassem Ahmad Nader , Alkrekshi Akram , Arroyo Suarez Raul 
Published: June 2021

6531 Background: African-Americans (AA) have the highest incidence and death rates from cancer and the shortest survival of all racial groups in the USA, as reiterated by the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures for AA from 2019. We studied cancer prevalence in AA compared to Caucasians, focusing on patients with above-normal Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: Data was collected from Explorys, IBM, a national database including over 73 million patients. Patients were divided based on age (18-64 and ≥ 65 years; for female cancers 18-49 and ≥ 50 years), race (Caucasians and AA), and BMI (18.5 - < 25 and ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for multiple cancer rates in AA compared to Caucasians were calculated with P values <0.001 considered significant. Results: N: Normal BMI EW: Excess weight (Females) C: Caucasian S: Significant NS: Non-significant. Conclusions: Our results show a significantly lower than expected prevalence of screenable cancers in AA compared to Caucasians, diverging widely from established incidence rates. The difference was more remarkable in pre-Medicare age (< 65 years) and excess weight patients. These disparities are concerning for a compromised healthcare access contributing to underdiagnosis of cancer or shorter survival among AA in the US.[Table: see text]
Accessibility of Telehealth services for cancer care at cancer hospital in the United States.
Authors: Marks Victoria A. , Hsiang Walter R. , Nie James , Umer Waez , Haleem Afash , Galal Bayan , Pak Irene , Kim Dana , Kenney Patrick Aloysius , Leapman Michael S. 
Published: June 2021

6535 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the availability of telehealth services for patients with cancer. However, little national cross-sectional data is available to inform potential gaps in access. We aimed to characterize overall access to and trends in telehealth availability for new cancer care patients at hospitals across the United States. Methods: We performed a cross sectional secret-shopper study to evaluate the availability of telehealth services for new patients for three major cancer types—colorectal, breast, and skin cancer—at Commission on Cancer accredited hospitals during the period of April to November 2020. American Hospital Association and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service databases were queried to determine hospital characteristics. We described hospital variation in access to telehealth services using descriptive statistics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with telehealth availability. Results: Of 334 successfully contacted facilities, 248 (74%) offered new patient telehealth services for at least one cancer type. However, access differed by cancer site: telehealth availability for new patients with skin, colorectal, and breast cancer was 47%, 42%, and 38%, respectively. Of the facilities sampled, 47% offered telehealth for one cancer type, 40% for two cancer types, and 14% for all three cancer types. Rates of any telehealth access among the cancer types ranged from 61% at Community Cancer Programs to 100% at NCI Designated Programs. In multivariable logistic regression, facility type was significantly associated with telehealth access while factors such as bed size, ownership, and volume were not significantly associated. Conclusions: Although access to telehealth services for patients with cancer has increased, overall gaps in access remain. Within facility differences in telehealth access imply opportunities to better align services within institutions, though further investigation is warranted as these offerings mature.[Table: see text]
COVID-19 and exacerbation of screening mammography inequities.
Authors: Wang Gary X. , Chen Jarvis , Lamb Leslie , Testa Christian , Waterman Pamela , Lehman Constance Dobbins , Krieger Nancy 
Published: June 2021

6543 Background: After state-mandated cessation of screening mammography (SM) in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19, centers were urged to resume screening, particularly of patients at increased risk. As our tertiary-care medical center’s screening program provides SM at four sites across our metropolitan area, we examined whether sites that historically served more patients from more disadvantaged areas returned slower to pre-COVID volumes. Methods: Patient records were linked by ZIP code of residence to ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA)-level area-based social metrics (ABSMs) from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey. We compared baseline pre-COVID (May-October, 2015-2019) SM population ABSMs between our four imaging sites for: % persons below poverty (≥ vs < 10%), % persons of color (POC) (quintiles: top 2 vs bottom 3), index of racialized economic segregation (quintiles: bottom 2 [more POC low-income households] vs top 3 [more white non-Hispanic (WNH) high-income households]); and race/ethnicity (% WNH vs POC). We modeled weekly SM volumes per screening day by site using Poisson regression and tested for weekly differences at each site, COVID-era (May-October 2020) vs pre-COVID; and tested for monthly differences in SM population composition by logistic regression modeling. Results: There were 89,082 pre-COVID and 16,220 COVID-era SM exams. At pre-COVID baselines the four sites differed in population composition by ABSMs and race/ethnicity (all chi-square P values <.001) (Table). The two sites that served more disadvantaged populations (A, B) returned slower to pre-COVID volumes (site-specific weekly screening volume no longer different [ P >.05] vs pre-COVID) (Table). As a result, compositions of the aggregate SM population across all sites showed a smaller proportion of patients from the most disadvantaged ZCTAs by ABSMs (all P values <.001) before returning to pre-COVID compositions three months after SM resumption. Conclusions: SM was slower to return to pre-COVID volumes at imaging sites that historically served lower-income communities of color. As a result, our COVID-era SM population skewed away from patients in disadvantaged ZCTAs. Our findings highlight the need to monitor for emergent disparities in the pandemic era. Future work will focus on understanding causes of inequitable SM engagement across our imaging sites to mitigate care disparities for our most vulnerable patients.[Table: see text]
Comparison of patient-reported impact of COVID19 on cancer care delivery: A prospective, cross-sectional study.
Authors: Hsu Emily , Chhabra Jyoti , Serrano Oscar , Menendez Alvaro G. 
Published: June 2021

6551 Background: Impact of COVID19 on cancer care delivery and outcomes remains unknown. Few trials have investigated patients’ perceived risks and benefits, and cancer care delivery (CCD) alterations related to COVID19. We sought to identify differences on behaviors and social determinants of health in Hispanics and other underrepresented populations (H/UP) compared to the general population (GP). Methods: An IRB-approved validated 27-item questionnaire was offered in English and Spanish to all pts. receiving cancer care at participating cancer centers over a 4 month period. Examined variables included demographic information, social risk and behavioral factors, preferred sources of health information, and overall satisfaction with CCD during the pandemic. Results: A total of 180 pts were enrolled in the study. Compared to GP, H/UP’s perceived risk of COVID19 was higher with 93% vs 87% more likely to cancel or avoid social gatherings and 54% vs 46% more likely to change daily routine. H/UP appeared more concerned with personal and financial safety; if unable to find work/get paid for 2 weeks, 26% H/UP vs 10% GP would struggle to keep up with expenses. 40% H/UP vs 10% GP have concerns on perceived ability to secure food on short term and consider COVID19 a major threat to their health (70% vs 46%) and financial situation (63% vs 35%). H/UP’s perceived benefits of protective measures is higher with 81% vs 60% routinely practicing social distancing (SD) and 79% vs 66% in agreement with punitive actions for not following SD. Analysis demonstrated no significant difference by age, gender, level of education, marital status, however Hispanic ethnicity and Spanish as primary language was a statistically significant variable (p = 0.025) in perceived risks and satisfaction with CCD. No major differences were noted on sources of health information although more H/UP relied on social media (33% vs 24%). H/UP appeared to be more skeptical about availability and safety of targeted vaccines (40% vs 15%). Satisfaction regarding CCD was comparable (84% vs 86%), although more H/UP perceived CCD alterations (15% vs 10%). Going forward, H/UP would prefer to incorporate virtual visits (VV) when possible (36% vs 25%). Conclusions: COVID19-related societal, financial, health and personal fears are increased in H/UP which likely negatively affects quality of life of these at-risk populations. H/UP’s trust in SD recommendations is heightened although linguistically and culturally appropriate information may be deficient. H/UP’s belief in vaccine availability and safety is comparable to GP, although recent reports suggest deeper fear and emphasize their fear of experimentation. Interventions aimed to decrease these differences could incorporate standard communications with special attention to social media. H/UP would prefer to incorporate VV into their care, although most do not possess appropriate technology to do so.
Examining racial disparities in male breast cancer.
Authors: Linehan Elizabeth Shurell , Samant Navendu D. , Rabbani Juleon W 
Published: June 2021

6555 Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancers. Racial disparities have not been examined in MBC. Methods: Within a large, integrated health delivery system, all adult female and male patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer from 01-01-2010 to 12-31-2018 were examined. Bivariate analysis was performed to examine clinical and demographic factors associated with breast cancer-related mortality. We conducted more detailed chart review in the MBC-only group (data period 01-01-2010 to 12-31-2019) to assess the mean time to treatment (from diagnosis to surgery, surgery to chemotherapy, and surgery to radiation) stratified by race using bivariate (t-test, one way ANOVA) analyses. Results: 32,848 female breast cancer and 226 MBC patients were evaluated; MBC patients represented 0.63% of all breast cancer patients. Between males and females, there was no statistically significant difference in race, with an overall distribution of 62% White, 19% Asian, 8% Black, and 11% Hispanic. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most racially diverse sample of MBC patients to date. MBC patients at diagnosis were significantly older (p <.0001), more obese (p < 0.0018), and sicker according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (p < 0.0001) compared to female breast cancer patients. Males were more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage (19.2%) compared to females (12.5%) (p = 0.0037). With a mean follow up of 5 years, overall mortality was statistically significantly worse in MBC (23.0%) compared to female breast cancer patients (12.0%) (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, breast cancer-related mortality was significantly higher in males (8.1%) than in females (4.5%) (p = 0.0124). In the MBC-only analysis, stage at diagnosis was not influenced by patient race. Asian and White MBC patients had the shortest mean time from diagnosis to surgery (27 and 29 days, respectively), with Hispanic MBC patients experiencing the longest time to surgery (46 days). Black MBC patients experienced the shortest mean time to chemotherapy after surgery (39 days), whereas Asian MBC patients experienced the longest time to chemotherapy (50 days). In survivorship, Black and Asian patients were least likely to undergo screening mammography (33.3%, and 43.3%, respectively), compared to 52% of White and 50% of Hispanic MBC patients. Ultimately, 13% of Asian and 11% of Hispanic MBC patients died of breast cancer, compared to 6.7% of Black and 6.2% of White MBC patients. Conclusions: While we found no statistically significant differences in mortality by race among MBC patients, our findings indicate that non-white patients had longer time to treatments, less survivorship screening, and worse disease related mortality than their white counterparts. Future study can elucidate these racial inequalities, enabling more equitable breast cancer treatment among patient subgroups.
In-hospital outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy in United States in 2018: A nationwide analysis.
Authors: Rai Manoj P. , Bedi Prabhjot Singh , Kasi Anup , Mehta Kathan 
Published: June 2021

6556 Background: CAR T-cell therapy is a type of adoptive cell transfer (ACT). In 2017 CAR T-cell therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for management of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma refractory to at least two prior lines of therapy (DLBCL) including primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), and B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) up to 25 years of age that is refractory or in second or later relapse. Since its inception, several patients underwent CAR T-cell therapy but data on real world outcome is limited. In this study we aim to evaluate the in-hospital outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy in the United States in 2018. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using National Inpatient Sample 2018 database. Discharges with the ICD-10-PCS code for CAR T-cell therapy and ICD-10-CM code of ALL, DLBCL or PMBCL were included in the study. We analyzed their in-hospital outcomes (Total discharges, length of stay in days, hospitalization cost, and mortality - number of deaths). We applied the cost to charge ratio to hospitalization charges to estimate the mean hospitalization cost. The weighted sample represents national estimates. Results: We identified 785 discharges with CAR T cell therapy and diagnosis of ALL, DLBCL or PMBCL. 155 (19.75 %) were ALL, 620 (78.98%) DLBCL, and 10 (1.27%) PMBCL. Mean length of stay for the study cohort was 23.26 days. Specifically, for ALL mean LOS was 33.67 days, DLBCL 20.76 days, and PMBCL 17 days. Mean hospitalization cost for the study cohort was $285,989, specifically for ALL it was $342,228, DLBCL $274,102, PMBCL $179,431. There were a total of 60 (7.6%) deaths in the study cohort. Diagnosis specific mortality was 20 (12.9%) in ALL, 40 (6.4%) in DLBCL and none in PMBCL. Conclusions: Majority of discharges who underwent CAR T-cell therapy were DLBCL followed by ALL and PMBCL. CAR-T Cell hospitalizations have high costs and long length of stays. Mean length of stay was highest in ALL discharges, least in PMBCL. Mean hospitalization cost was higher in DLBCL discharges compared to ALL and was least in PMBCL discharges. The in-hospital mortality with the CAR-T cell therapy appears to be higher than reported in clinical trials, especially for ALL. [Table: see text]
Lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in patients with cancer and COVID-19: A COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) study.
Authors: Shah Dimpy P , Shah Pankil , Schmidt Andrew Lachlan , Bakouny Ziad , Farmakiotis Dimitrios , Abidi Maheen , Rubinstein Samuel M. , Figueroa Cesar J. , Labaki Chris , Friese Christopher Ryan , Rathmann Joerg , Hwang Clara , McKay Rana R. , Park Cathleen , Puc Matthew , Nagaraj Gayathri , French Benjamin , Warner Jeremy Lyle , Shete Sanjay 
Published: June 2021

6563 Background: Immunodeficiency in patients (pts) with cancer can lead to the progression of common respiratory viral infections to lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) with potentially high mortality. Understanding risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 related LRTD in pts with cancer is imperative for the development of preventive measures. Methods: We examined all patients aged 18 years or older with cancer and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection reported between March 16, 2020 and February 6, 2021 in the international CCC19 registry. We examined frequency of LRTD (pneumonia, pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or respiratory failure), demographic and clinicopathologic factors associated with LRTD, and 30-day and overall mortality in pts with and without LRTD. Results: Of 7,289 pts with a median follow-up time of 42 (21-90) days, 2187 (30%) developed LRTD. Pts of older age (65 yrs or older), male sex, pre-existing comorbidities, baseline immunosuppressants, baseline corticosteroids, and ECOG performance status of 2 or more had substantially higher rates of LRTD compared to those without these risk factors (Table). We did not observe differences in LRTD rates between pts of different racial/ethnic groups, smoking history, hypertension, obesity, cancer status, timing or type of anti-cancer therapy. LRTD was more likely in pts with thoracic malignancy (39%), hematological malignancy (39%) compared to those with other solid tumors (27%). The majority of pts (86%) had symptomatic presentation; however, 8% of pts with asymptomatic presentation developed LRTD. 30-day and overall mortality rates were significantly higher in pts with LRTD than those without LRTD (31% vs. 4% and 38% vs. 6%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: COVID-19 related LRTD rate is high and associated with worse mortality rates in pts with cancer. The majority of risk factors associated with LRTD demonstrate underlying immunodeficiency or lung structural damage as a driving force in this population. Identifying pts at high-risk for developing LRTD can help guide clinical management, improve pt outcomes, increase the cost-effectiveness of antiviral therapy, and direct future clinical trial designs for vaccine or antiviral agents.[Table: see text]