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Roach M, Coleman PW, Kittles R. Prostate Cancer, Race, and Health Disparity: What We Know. Cancer J 2023; 29:328-337. [PMID: 37963367 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Prostate cancer (PCa) in African American men is one of the most common cancers with a great disparity in outcomes. The higher incidence and tendency to present with more advanced disease have prompted investigators to postulate that this is a problem of innate biology. However, unequal access to health care and poorer quality of care raise questions about the relative importance of genetics versus social/health injustice. Although race is inconsistent with global human genetic diversity, we need to understand the sociocultural reality that race and racism impact biology. Genetic studies reveal enrichment of PCa risk alleles in populations of West African descent and population-level differences in tumor immunology. Structural racism may explain some of the differences previously reported in PCa clinical outcomes; fortunately, there is high-level evidence that when care is comparable, outcomes are comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mack Roach
- From the Particle Therapy Research Program & Outreach, Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
| | - Pamela W Coleman
- Department of Surgery/Obstetrics-Gynecology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC
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2
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Burnett AL, Nyame YA, Mitchell E. Disparities in prostate cancer. J Natl Med Assoc 2023; 115:S38-S45. [PMID: 37202002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial advances in early detection/prevention and treatments, and improved outcomes in recent decades, prostate cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black men and is the secondleading cause of cancer death in this subgroup. Black men are substantially more likely to develop prostate cancer and are twice as likely to die from the disease compared with White men. In addition, Black men are younger at diagnosis and face a higher risk of aggressive disease relative to White men. Striking racial disparities endure along the continuum of prostate cancer care, including screening, genomic testing, diagnostic procedures, and treatment modalities. The underlying causes of these inequalities are complex and multifactorial and involve biological factors, structural determinants of equity (i.e., public policy, structural and systemic racism, economic policy), social determinants of health (including income, education, and insurance status, neighborhood/physical environment, community/social context, and geography), and health care factors. The objective of this article is to review the sources of racial disparities in prostate cancer and to propose actionable recommendations to help address these inequities and narrow the racial gap.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaw A Nyame
- Division of Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Urology, University of Washington, United States
| | - Edith Mitchell
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer at Jefferson, 925 Chestnut Street, Suite 220A, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States.
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3
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Rude T, Walter D, Ciprut S, Kelly MD, Wang C, Fagerlin A, Langford AT, Lepor H, Becker DJ, Li H, Loeb S, Ravenell J, Leppert JT, Makarov DV. Interaction between race and prostate cancer treatment benefit in the Veterans Health Administration. Cancer 2021; 127:3985-3990. [PMID: 34184271 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that Black men may undergo definitive prostate cancer (CaP) treatment less often than men of other races, but it is unclear whether they are avoiding overtreatment of low-risk disease or experiencing a reduction in appropriate care. The authors' aim was to assess the role of race as it relates to treatment benefit in access to CaP treatment in a single-payer population. METHODS The authors used the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse to perform a retrospective cohort study of veterans diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk CaP between 2011 and 2017. RESULTS The authors identified 35,427 men with incident low- or intermediate-risk CaP. When they controlled for covariates, Black men had 1.05 times the odds of receiving treatment in comparison with non-Black men (P < .001), and high-treatment-benefit men had 1.4 times the odds of receiving treatment in comparison with those in the low-treatment-benefit group (P < .001). The interaction of race and treatment benefit was significant, with Black men in the high-treatment-benefit category less likely to receive treatment than non-Black men in the same treatment category (odds ratio, 0.89; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Although race does appear to influence the receipt of definitive treatment in the VHA, this relationship varies in the context of the patient's treatment benefit, with Black men receiving less definitive treatment in high-benefit situations. The influence of patient race at high treatment benefit levels invites further investigation into the driving forces behind this persistent disparity in this consequential group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Rude
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Dawn Walter
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York
| | - Shannon Ciprut
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York
| | - Matthew D Kelly
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York
| | - Chan Wang
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Angela Fagerlin
- Salt Lake City VA Informatics Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences Center for Innovation, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Aisha T Langford
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Herbert Lepor
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York
| | - Huilin Li
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Stacy Loeb
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York
| | - Joseph Ravenell
- Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - John T Leppert
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Urology, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
| | - Danil V Makarov
- Department of Urology, New York University, New York, New York.,Department of Population Health, New York University, New York, New York.,Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, New York.,VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, New York.,Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York, New York
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Ballas LK, Kraus R, Ji L, Groshen S, Stern MC, Gill I, Quinn DI, Chung E, Abreu A, Hamilton AS. Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: Are We Failing Latino Patients at a Large Safety Net Hospital? Clin Genitourin Cancer 2018; 16:e719-e727. [PMID: 29483045 DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2018.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Active surveillance (AS) is one recommended option for low-risk prostate cancer and involves close follow-up and monitoring. Our objective was to determine whether non-clinical trial patients adhere to AS protocols and how many are lost to follow-up (LTFU). PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective chart review was performed for patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who initiated AS at Los Angeles County Hospital (LAC) and University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Norris) between January 1, 2008, and January 1, 2015. Competing-risks regression analyses examined the difference in LTFU rates of AS patients in the 2 institutions and examined the association between LTFU and patient characteristics. We used California Cancer Registry data to verify if patients LTFU were monitored and/or treated at other LAC medical facilities. RESULTS We found 116 patients at LAC and 98 at Norris who met the AS criteria for this study. Patients at LAC and Norris had similar tumor characteristics but differed in median income, race, primary language spoken, distance residing from hospital, and socioeconomic status (SES). LTFU was significantly different between the institutions: 57 ± 7% at LAC and 32 ± 6% at Norris at 5 years (P < .001). By multivariable analysis, the main determinant of LTFU was SES (P = .045). By 5 years, the chance of an LAC patient remaining on AS was 8 ± 6% compared to 20 ± 6% for a Norris patient (P < .001). CONCLUSION Successful AS implementation relies on patient follow-up. We found that patients on AS from lower SES strata are more often LTFU. Identifying barriers to follow-up and compliance among low SES patients is critical to ensure optimal AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie K Ballas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.
| | - Ryan Kraus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Lingyun Ji
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Susan Groshen
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mariana C Stern
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Urology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Inderbir Gill
- Department of Urology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - David I Quinn
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Eugene Chung
- Radiation Oncology, Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver, CO
| | - Andre Abreu
- Department of Urology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ann S Hamilton
- Department of Preventative Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
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Martínez-Jabaloyas JM, Castelló-Porcar A, González-Baena AC, Cózar-Olmo JM, Miñana-López B, Gómez-Veiga F, Rodriguez-Antolín A. Influence of demographic and tumour variables on prostate cancer treatment with curative intent in Spain. Results of the 2010 national prostate cancer registry. Actas Urol Esp 2016; 40:485-91. [PMID: 27260350 DOI: 10.1016/j.acuro.2016.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to determine which cancer and demographic criteria influence the indication for surgery (radical prostatectomy) or radiation therapy (external or brachytherapy) in the treatment of prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS An analysis of the 2714 patients of the 2010 National Prostate Cancer Registry treated with curative intent. The analysed variables were age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, the number of biopsy cores, the percentage of positive cores, the stage, Gleason score, the type of pathologist, the presence of perineural invasion and the study centre. We analysed the association among these variables and the type of treatment (surgery vs. radiation therapy/brachytherapy), using a univariate analysis (Student's t test and chi-squared) and a binary multiple logistic regression. RESULTS The 48.12% of the patients (1306/2714) were treated with surgery, and 51.88% (1,408/2,714) underwent radiation therapy/brachytherapy. Differences were observed between the patients treated with prostatectomy and those treated with radiation therapy/brachytherapy (p<.05) in age (63.50±6.5 vs. 69.0±6.7), PSA (8.76±16.97 vs. 13.21±15.88), biopsied cores, percentage of positives cores (30.0±22 vs. 38.7±29), Gleason score (G6: 53.9% vs. 46.1%; G7: 45% vs. 55% G8-10: 26.6%, 73.4%), stage (localised: 50% vs. 50%; locally advanced: 14.6% vs. 85.4%), perineural invasion and hospital centre. In the multivariate analysis, the selected independent variables were age, PSA, percentage of positives cores, stage, Gleason score and hospital centre. CONCLUSION According to our study, age, tumour aggressiveness and stage and the centre where the patient will be treated affect the selection of curative treatment for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Castelló-Porcar
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, España
| | | | - J M Cózar-Olmo
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España
| | - B Miñana-López
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Morales Meseguer, Murcia, España
| | - F Gómez-Veiga
- Servicio de Urología, C.H.U.A.C., Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, España
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McCarthy AM, Bristol M, Domchek SM, Groeneveld PW, Kim Y, Motanya UN, Shea JA, Armstrong K. Health Care Segregation, Physician Recommendation, and Racial Disparities in BRCA1/2 Testing Among Women With Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol 2016; 34:2610-8. [PMID: 27161971 PMCID: PMC5012689 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.66.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Racial disparities in BRCA1/2 testing have been documented, but causes of these disparities are poorly understood. The study objective was to investigate whether the distribution of black and white patients across cancer providers contributes to disparities in BRCA1/2 testing. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a population-based study of women in Pennsylvania and Florida who were 18 to 64 years old and diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2007 and 2009, linking cancer registry data, the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile, and patient and physician surveys. The study included 3,016 women (69% white, 31% black), 808 medical oncologists, and 732 surgeons. RESULTS Black women were less likely to undergo BRCA1/2 testing than white women (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.48; P < .001). This difference was attenuated but not eliminated by adjustment for mutation risk, clinical factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and attitudes about testing (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P < .001). The care of black and white women was highly segregated across surgeons and oncologists (index of dissimilarity 64.1 and 61.9, respectively), but adjusting for clustering within physician or physician characteristics did not change the size of the testing disparity. Black women were less likely to report that they had received physician recommendation for BRCA1/2 testing even after adjusting for mutation risk (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.82; P < .001). Adjusting for physician recommendation further attenuated the testing disparity (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.02; P = .06). CONCLUSION Although black and white patients with breast cancer tend to see different surgeons and oncologists, this distribution does not contribute to disparities in BRCA1/2 testing. Instead, residual racial differences in testing after accounting for patient and physician characteristics are largely attributable to differences in physician recommendations. Efforts to address these disparities should focus on ensuring equity in testing recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie McCarthy
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mirar Bristol
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Susan M Domchek
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Peter W Groeneveld
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Younji Kim
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - U Nkiru Motanya
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Judy A Shea
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Katrina Armstrong
- Anne Marie McCarthy, Mirar Bristol, Younji Kim, and Katrina Armstrong, Massachusetts General Hospital; Anne Marie McCarthy and Katrina Armstrong, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Susan M. Domchek, Peter W. Groeneveld, U. Nkiru Motanya, and Judy A. Shea, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Radhakrishnan A, Silverman P, Pollack CE, Pfoh ER, Shenk R, Thompson CL. Understanding age and race disparities in the application of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer. J Investig Med 2016; 64:1241-1245. [PMID: 27466395 DOI: 10.1136/jim-2016-000226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard of care for surgical evaluation of early-stage breast cancer and is being employed as a quality metric for accreditation of breast centers. Previous studies report disparities in SLNB receipt. The goal of this study is to determine SLNB rates and explore rationale for non-receipt of SLNB. Patients with early-stage breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2011 were identified from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center tumor registry. Multivariable logistic models were used to identify clinical and demographic risk factors for patients who did not receive SLNB. We performed chart reviews to elucidate reasons for the lack of SLNB. Our total sample was 479 patients; of them 432 (90.2%) received SLNB. On average, patients who received SLNB were younger than those who did not receive SLNB (61 compared to 79 years, respectively). Patients ≥80 years were 96% less likely to receive SLNB compared to patients <65 years (OR 0.04; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.14). There were no differences in SLNB by race, between patients undergoing Medicare or Medicaid and managed care, by surgeon specialty, or across medical centers. Chart review determined that 45/47 patients did not have SLNB, because it was a clinical decision-making; advanced age (>80 years) was cited in 27/47 women. Older women had much lower odds of receiving SLNB; however, non-receipt of SLNB was often due to a clinical reasoning. Our study highlights the importance of clinical reasoning in receiving SLNB, whereas other studies solely employing administrative databases do not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Radhakrishnan
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paula Silverman
- Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Craig Evan Pollack
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Pfoh
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert Shenk
- Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Cheryl L Thompson
- Department of Family Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Hebert PL, Howell EA, Wong ES, Hernandez SE, Rinne ST, Sulc CA, Neely EL, Liu CF. Methods for Measuring Racial Differences in Hospitals Outcomes Attributable to Disparities in Use of High-Quality Hospital Care. Health Serv Res 2016; 52:826-848. [PMID: 27256878 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare two approaches to measuring racial/ethnic disparities in the use of high-quality hospitals. DATA SOURCES Simulated data. STUDY DESIGN Through simulations, we compared the "minority-serving" approach of assessing differences in risk-adjusted outcomes at minority-serving and non-minority-serving hospitals with a "fixed-effect" approach that estimated the reduction in adverse outcomes if the distribution of minority and white patients across hospitals was the same. We evaluated each method's ability to detect and measure a disparity in outcomes caused by minority patients receiving care at poor-quality hospitals, which we label a "between-hospital" disparity, and to reject it when the disparity in outcomes was caused by factors other than hospital quality. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The minority-serving and fixed-effect approaches correctly identified between-hospital disparities in quality when they existed and rejected them when racial differences in outcomes were caused by other disparities; however, the fixed-effect approach has many advantages. It does not require an ad hoc definition of a minority-serving hospital, and it estimated the magnitude of the disparity accurately, while the minority-serving approach underestimated the disparity by 35-46 percent. CONCLUSIONS Researchers should consider using the fixed-effect approach for measuring disparities in use of high-quality hospital care by vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L Hebert
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Elizabeth A Howell
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Edwin S Wong
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Susan E Hernandez
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Seppo T Rinne
- Yale Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Christine A Sulc
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Emily L Neely
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Chuan-Fen Liu
- VA HSR&D Center of Innovation for Patient Centered and Value Driven Health Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
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Moses KA, Orom H, Brasel A, Gaddy J, Underwood W. Racial/ethnic differences in the relative risk of receipt of specific treatment among men with prostate cancer. Urol Oncol 2016; 34:415.e7-415.e12. [PMID: 27161898 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE African-American (AA) men have excess mortality from prostate cancer compared with White men, which has remained unchanged over several decades. The purpose of this study is to determine if race/ethnicity is an independent predictor of receipt of any definitive treatment vs. watchful waiting/active surveillance (WW/AS). METHODS AND MATERIALS Men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2004 to 2011 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results program. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relative risk ratio (RRR) of receipt of radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation therapy (RT), brachytherapy, cryotherapy, or combination therapy vs. WW/AS. RESULTS Compared with White men, AA men were significantly less likely to receive RP (RRR = 0.53, P<0.001), brachytherapy (RRR = 0.72, P<0.001), cryotherapy (RRR = 0.84, P = 0.001), and combination therapy (RRR = 0.70, P<0.001), and more likely to receive RT (RRR = 1.03, P = 0.041) vs. AS/WW. Hispanic men were significantly less likely to receive RP (RRR = 0.84, P<0.001) and brachytherapy (RRR = 0.77, P<0.001), and more likely to receive RT (RRR = 1.08, P<0.001), and cryotherapy (RRR = 1.19, P = 0.005) vs. AS/WW compared with White men. CONCLUSIONS The disparate risk of receiving definitive treatment among AA and Hispanic men represents a significant public health issue that requires efforts to improve physician education, increase cultural competency, and ensure equitable access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin A Moses
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
| | - Heather Orom
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Alicia Brasel
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
| | - Jacquelyne Gaddy
- Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Willie Underwood
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Department of Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
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11
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Examining Causes of Racial Disparities in General Surgical Mortality: Hospital Quality Versus Patient Risk. Med Care 2015; 53:619-29. [PMID: 26057575 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial disparities in general surgical outcomes are known to exist but not well understood. OBJECTIVES To determine if black-white disparities in general surgery mortality for Medicare patients are attributable to poorer health status among blacks on admission or differences in the quality of care provided by the admitting hospitals. RESEARCH DESIGN Matched cohort study using Tapered Multivariate Matching. SUBJECTS All black elderly Medicare general surgical patients (N=18,861) and white-matched controls within the same 6 states or within the same 838 hospitals. MEASURES Thirty-day mortality (primary); others include in-hospital mortality, failure-to-rescue, complications, length of stay, and readmissions. RESULTS Matching on age, sex, year, state, and the exact same procedure, blacks had higher 30-day mortality (4.0% vs. 3.5%, P<0.01), in-hospital mortality (3.9% vs. 2.9%, P<0.0001), in-hospital complications (64.3% vs. 56.8% P<0.0001), and failure-to-rescue rates (6.1% vs. 5.1%, P<0.001), longer length of stay (7.2 vs. 5.8 d, P<0.0001), and more 30-day readmissions (15.0% vs. 12.5%, P<0.0001). Adding preoperative risk factors to the above match, there was no significant difference in mortality or failure-to-rescue, and all other outcome differences were small. Blacks matched to whites in the same hospital displayed no significant differences in mortality, failure-to-rescue, or readmissions. CONCLUSIONS Black and white Medicare patients undergoing the same procedures with closely matched risk factors displayed similar mortality, suggesting that racial disparities in general surgical mortality are not because of differences in hospital quality. To reduce the observed disparities in surgical outcomes, the poorer health of blacks on presentation for surgery must be addressed.
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Ellis SD, Nielsen ME, Carpenter WR, Jackson GL, Wheeler SB, Liu H, Weinberger M. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist overuse: urologists' response to reimbursement and characteristics associated with persistent overuse. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2015; 18:173-81. [PMID: 25849354 PMCID: PMC4430363 DOI: 10.1038/pcan.2015.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicare reimbursement cuts have been associated with declining gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist overuse in localized prostate cancer. Medical school affiliation and foreign training have been associated with persistent overuse. However, physician-level prescribing changes and the practice type of persistent overusers have not been examined. We sought to describe physician-level changes in GnRH agonist overuse and test the association of time in practice and solo practice type with GnRH agonist overuse. METHODS We matched American Medical Association physician data for 2138 urologists to Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result-Medicare data for 12,943 men diagnosed with early-stage and lower-grade adenocarcinoma of the prostate between 2000 and 2007. We conducted a population-based, retrospective study using multilevel modeling to control for patient and provider characteristics. RESULTS Three distinct patterns of GnRH agonist overuse were observed. Urologists' time in practice was not associated with GnRH agonist overuse (odds ratio (OR) 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75-1.05). However, solo practice type (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.34-2.02), medical school affiliation (OR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.55-0.77) and patient race were. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks (OR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.37-2.27), Hispanics (OR 1.41; 95% CI: 1.12-1.79) and men of 'other' race (OR 1.44; 95% CI: 1.04-1.99) had greater odds of receiving unnecessary GnRH agonists. CONCLUSIONS GnRH agonist overuse remains high among some urologists who may be professionally isolated and difficult to reach. These urologists treat more vulnerable populations, which may contribute to health disparities in prostate cancer treatment quality. Nonetheless, these findings provide guidance to develop interventions to address overuse in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shellie D. Ellis
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Kansas School of Medicine
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Matthew E. Nielsen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - William R. Carpenter
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - George L. Jackson
- Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center
| | - Stephanie B. Wheeler
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Huan Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Morris Weinberger
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
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Evan Pollack C, Wang H, Bekelman JE, Weissman G, Epstein AJ, Liao K, Dugoff EH, Armstrong K. Physician social networks and variation in rates of complications after radical prostatectomy. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2014; 17:611-8. [PMID: 25128055 PMCID: PMC4135395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Variation in care within and across geographic areas remains poorly understood. The goal of this article was to examine whether physician social networks-as defined by shared patients-are associated with rates of complications after radical prostatectomy. METHODS In five cities, we constructed networks of physicians on the basis of their shared patients in 2004-2005 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data. From these networks, we identified subgroups of urologists who most frequently shared patients with one another. Among men with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy, we used multilevel analysis with generalized linear mixed-effect models to examine whether physician network structure-along with specific characteristics of the network subgroups-was associated with rates of 30-day and late urinary complications, and long-term incontinence after accounting for patient-level sociodemographic, clinical factors, and urologist patient volume. RESULTS Networks included 2677 men in five cities who underwent radical prostatectomy. The unadjusted rate of 30-day surgical complications varied across network subgroups from an 18.8 percentage-point difference in the rate of complications across network subgroups in city 1 to a 26.9 percentage-point difference in city 5. Large differences in unadjusted rates of late urinary complications and long-term incontinence across subgroups were similarly found. Network subgroup characteristics-average urologist centrality and patient racial composition-were significantly associated with rates of surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of physician networks using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data provides insight into observed variation in rates of complications for localized prostate cancer. If validated, such approaches may be used to target future quality improvement interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Evan Pollack
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Hao Wang
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Justin E Bekelman
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gary Weissman
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Andrew J Epstein
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kaijun Liao
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Eva H Dugoff
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Xiao H, Tan F, Goovaerts P, Ali A, Adunlin G, Gwede CK, Huang Y. Multilevel Factors Associated With Overall Mortality for Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in Florida. Am J Mens Health 2013; 8:316-26. [PMID: 24297455 DOI: 10.1177/1557988313512862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify individual and contextual factors contributing to overall mortality among men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Florida, a random sample of patients (between October 1, 2001, and December 31, 2007) was taken from the Florida Cancer Data System. Patient's demographic and clinical information were obtained from the Florida Cancer Data System. Comorbidity was computed following the Elixhauser Index method. Census-tract-level socioeconomic status and farm house presence were extracted from Census 2000 and linked to patient data. The ratio of urologists and radiation oncologists to prostate cancer cases at the county level was computed. Multilevel logistic regression was conducted to identify significance of individuals and contextual factors in relation to overall mortality. A total of 18,042 patients were identified, among whom 2,363 died. No racial difference was found in our study. Being older at diagnosis, unmarried, current smoker, uninsured, diagnosed at late stage, with undifferentiated, poorly differentiated, or unknown tumor grade were significantly associated with higher odds of overall mortality. Living in a low-income area was significantly associated with higher odds of mortality (p = .0404). After adjusting for age, stage, and tumor grade, patients who received hormonal, combination of radiation with hormone therapy, and no definitive treatment had higher odds of mortality compared with those who underwent surgery only. A large number of comorbidities were associated with higher odds of mortality. Although disease-specific mortality was not examined, our findings suggest the importance of careful considerations of patient sociodemographic characteristics and their coexisting conditions in treatment decision making, which in turn affects mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xiao
- Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Fei Tan
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Askal Ali
- Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Clement K Gwede
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, and University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Youjie Huang
- Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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Current World Literature. Curr Opin Urol 2013. [DOI: 10.1097/mou.0b013e3283605159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Kim SP, Boorjian SA, Shah ND, Weight CJ, Tilburt JC, Han LC, Thompson RH, Trinh QD, Sun M, Moriarty JP, Karnes RJ. Disparities in access to hospitals with robotic surgery for patients with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. J Urol 2012; 189:514-20. [PMID: 23253307 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We described population level trends in radical prostatectomy for patients with prostate cancer by hospitals with robotic surgery, and assessed whether socioeconomic disparities exist in access to such hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS After merging the NIS (Nationwide Inpatient Sample) and the AHA (American Hospital Association) survey from 2006 to 2008, we identified 29,837 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. The primary outcome was treatment with radical prostatectomy at hospitals that have adopted robotic surgery. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with radical prostatectomy performed at hospitals with robotic surgery. RESULTS Overall 20,424 (68.5%) patients were surgically treated with radical prostatectomy at hospitals with robotic surgery, while 9,413 (31.5%) underwent radical prostatectomy at hospitals without robotic surgery. There was a marked increase in radical prostatectomy at hospital adopters from 55.8% in 2006 and 70.7% in 2007 to 76.1% in 2008 (p <0.001 for trend). After adjusting for patient and hospital features, lower odds of undergoing radical prostatectomy at hospitals with robotic surgery were seen in black patients (OR 0.81, p <0.001) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.77, p <0.001) vs white patients. Compared to having private health insurance, being primarily insured with Medicaid (OR 0.70, p <0.001) was also associated with lower odds of being treated at hospitals with robotic surgery. CONCLUSIONS Although there was a rapid shift of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy to hospitals with robotic surgery from 2006 to 2008, black and Hispanic patients or those primarily insured by Medicaid were less likely to undergo radical prostatectomy at such hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Kim
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
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Pollack CE, Weissman G, Bekelman J, Liao K, Armstrong K. Physician social networks and variation in prostate cancer treatment in three cities. Health Serv Res 2011; 47:380-403. [PMID: 22092259 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2011.01331.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether physician social networks are associated with variation in treatment for men with localized prostate cancer. DATA SOURCE 2004-2005 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data from three cities. STUDY DESIGN We identified the physicians who care for patients with prostate cancer and created physician networks for each city based on shared patients. Subgroups of urologists were defined as physicians with dense connections with one another via shared patients. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Subgroups varied widely in their unadjusted rates of prostatectomy and the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic composition of their patients. There was an association between urologist subgroup and receipt of prostatectomy. In city A, four subgroups had significantly lower odds of prostatectomy compared with the subgroup with the highest rates of prostatectomy after adjusting for patient clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Similarly, in cities B and C, subgroups had significantly lower odds of prostatectomy compared with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS Using claims data to identify physician networks may provide an insight into the observed variation in treatment patterns for men with prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Evan Pollack
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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