Insurance status, stage of presentation, and survival among female patients with head and neck cancer

Persistent poverty disparities in incidence and outcomes among oral and pharynx cancer patients

PURPOSE

Disparities in oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status have been reported, but the impact of living within areas that are persistently poor at the time of diagnosis and outcome is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether the incidence, 5-year relative survival, stage at diagnosis, and mortality among patients with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers varied by persistent poverty.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the SEER database (2006-2017) and included individuals diagnosed with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers. Persistent poverty (at census tract) is defined as areas where ≥ 20% of the population has lived below the poverty level for ~ 30 years. Age-adjusted incidence and 5-year survival rates were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between persistent poverty and advanced stage cancer. Cumulative incidence and multivariable subdistribution hazard models were used to evaluate mortality risk. In addition, results were stratified by cancer primary site, sex, race/ethnicity, and rurality.

RESULTS

Of the 90,631 patients included in the analysis (61.7% < 65 years old, 71.6% males), 8.8% lived in persistent poverty. Compared to non-persistent poverty, patients in persistent poverty had higher incidence and lower 5-year survival rates. Throughout 10 years, the cumulative incidence of cancer death was greater in patients from persistent poverty and were more likely to present with advanced-stage cancer and higher mortality risk. In the stratified analysis by primary site, patients in persistent poverty with oropharyngeal, oral cavity, and nasopharyngeal cancers had an increased risk of mortality compared to the patients in non-persistent poverty.

CONCLUSION

This study found an association between oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer outcomes among patients in persistent poverty indicating a multidimensional strategy to improve survival.

Medicaid Acceptance Varies by Physician Seniority and Specialty in California

Given varied insurance acceptances and differing pay between insurances, our objective was to examine the number of California physicians enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal), stratified by specialty and graduation year. Medi-Cal and Medicare providers were extracted from publicly available databases (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and California Health and Human Services) and were subsequently merged into one dataset using National Provider Identifier. From there, we stratified physicians by specialty and graduation year. We found that emergency medicine, radiology, pathology, anesthesiology, general surgery, and internal medicine had the highest percent of Medi-Cal-accepting physicians, whereas dermatology, psychiatry, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and plastic & reconstructive surgery physicians had the lowest. There also appears to be an inverse relationship between acceptance of Medi-Cal and earlier year of graduation (P < 0.05). This study demonstrated striking variability in Medi-Cal acceptance based upon physician years in practice and specialty. Older, experienced physicians, as well as physicians of certain specialties, are less likely to accept Medi-Cal.

Predisposing, Enabling, and Need Factors Driving Palliative Care Use in Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Characterizing factors associated with palliative care (PC) use in patients with stage III and VI head and neck cancer using Anderson's behavioral model of health service use.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study of the 2004 to 2020 National Cancer Database.gg METHODS: We used multivariate logistic regression to assess the association of predisposing, enabling, and need factors with PC use. We also investigated the association of these factors with interventional PC type (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery) and refusal of curative treatment in the last 6 months of life.

RESULTS

Five percent of patients received PC. "Predisposing factors" associated with less PC use include Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 086; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.97) and white and black race (vs white: aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.07-1.22). "Enabling factors" associated with lower PC include private insurance (vs uninsured: aOR, 064; 95% CI, 0.53-0.77) and high-income (aOR, 078; 95% CI, 0.71-0.85). "Need factors" associated with higher PC use include stage IV (vs stage III cancer: aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 2.11-2.40) and higher comorbidity index (vs Index 1: aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.42-1.75). High-income (aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71-0.85) and private insurance (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.53, 0.77) were associated with higher interventional PC use and lower curative treatment refusal (insurance: aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.55, 0.67; income aOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.44, 0.52).

CONCLUSION

Low PC uptake is attributed to patients' race/culture, financial capabilities, and disease severity. Culturally informed counseling, clear guidelines on PC indication, and increasing financial accessibility of PC may increase timely and appropriate use of this service.

Global burden of head and neck cancers from 1990 to 2019

Head and neck cancer (HNC) exerts a significant healthcare burden worldwide. Insufficient data impedes a comprehensive understanding of its global impact. Through analysis of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, our secondary investigation unveiled a surging global incidence of HNC, yet a decline in associated mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) owing to enhanced prognosis. Particularly noteworthy is the higher incidence of escalation among females compared to males. Effective resource allocation, meticulous control of risk factors, and tailored interventions are imperative to curtail mortality rates among young individuals afflicted with HNC in underprivileged regions, as well as in elderly individuals grappling with thyroid cancer.

Influence of Medicaid Expansion on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presentation and Survival

OBJECTIVE

To compare head and neck squamous cell carcinoma stage at presentation and survival in Medicaid-expanded states versus nonexpanded states.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

METHODS

The Head and Neck with human papillomavirus Status Database within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program was queried for cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosed in the years 2010 to 2016. Cases were grouped according to their respective state Medicaid expansion status. Multivariable logistic regressions and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations with stage IV disease and survival.

RESULTS

Compared to nonexpanded states, Medicaid-expanded states had a significantly larger proportion of Medicaid patients (20.3% vs 16.7%, P = .0009) and a significantly smaller proportion of uninsured patients (1.7% vs 10.1%, P < .0001). The case selection process resulted in 2215 patients meeting inclusion criteria. In multivariable analysis, cases under Medicaid expansion were 31% less likely to present with stage IV disease compared to cases in nonexpanded states (odds ratio: 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.93). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, cases under Medicaid expansion had significantly better mortality outcomes and were 32% less likely to die compared to cases in nonexpanded states (hazard ratio: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55-0.84).

CONCLUSION

Medicaid expansion is associated with fewer stage IV cases and improved survival of HNSCC cases. These findings support continued efforts to expand Medicaid coverage.

Factors affecting timeliness in management of head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Timeliness in the management of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) can be affected by both patient and non-patient related factors. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with the timeliness of managing HNC.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on Western Health medical records including all new patients presenting to the Western Health HNC surgical outpatient clinic in the five-year period from first January 2017 to 31st December 2021 with the diagnosis of a HNC. Both patient and non-patient related factors were compared with the duration between a patient's referral to a HNC service and the commencement of their treatment.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were included in this study. The median duration from referral to the commencement of treatment was 48 days. Lack of radiological or pathological investigations prior to referral to a HNC service as well as early staging were found to significantly impact timeliness in management. Socioeconomic factors such as non-English speaking backgrounds, distance from the hospital and lack of social supports were not found to negatively impact timeliness of management.

CONCLUSION

The management of patients with HNC require careful consideration of all patient and non-patient related factors which may affect timeliness in management, particularly investigations performed prior to their referral to a HNC service.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Is Associated With Poor Overall Survival Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) occurs at higher rates among persons with HIV (PWH). This study compares the impact of sociodemographic and clinicopathologic characteristics on outcomes among PWH-HNSCC compared with HNSCC patients without HIV.

METHODS

Patient data from HNSCC individuals were collected at a single academic hospital center between 2002 and 2018. Forty-eight patients with HIV (HIV-HNSCC) and 2894 HNSCC patients without HIV were included. Multivariate analysis determined predictors of survival using Cox proportional hazards regression model. HIV-positive and -negative tumors were analyzed by quantitative immunofluorescence for expression of CD4, CD8, CD20 and PD-L1.

RESULTS

HIV-HNSCC patients had a lower median overall survival than HNSCC patients without HIV (34 [18-84] vs 94 [86-103] months; P < .001). In multivariate analysis that included age, sex, race/ethnicity, stage, site, tobacco use, time to treatment initiation, and insurance status, HIV was an independent predictor of poorer survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.98 (95% CI: 1.32-2.97; P < .001). PWH with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal tumors also had worse prognosis than HPV-positive oropharyngeal tumors in the population without HIV (P < .001). The tumor microenvironment among HIV-HNSCC patients revealed lower intratumoral CD8 infiltration among HIV+ HPV+ tumors compared with HIV- HPV+ tumors (P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-HNSCC patients had worse prognosis than the non-HIV population, with HIV being an independent predictor of poor clinical outcomes when accounting for important sociodemographic and clinicopathologic factors. Our findings highlight differences in tumor biology that require further detailed characterization in large cohorts and increased inclusion of PWH in immunotherapy trials.

Temporal trends of women with oral cavity, base of tongue and lip cancers in Brazil: An ecological study covering mortality data from 1980 to 2018

OBJECTIVES

Obtaining robust evidence about the local mortality levels, trends and impact of oral cavity/base of tongue cancers and lip cancer, especially for women, is imperative in the fight against cancer. This descriptive retrospective ecological time-series study explored trends in oral cavity/base of tongue cancers and lip cancer mortality rates for women in Brazil from 1980 to 2018, by geographic region and anatomical location.

METHODS

The crude and age-adjusted annual mortality rates were obtained by sex, anatomical location and macro-regions of Brazil. The number of deaths from oral cavity/base of tongue cancers and lip cancers in Brazil was based on official population counts and estimates. The annual percentage change was calculated based on age-adjusted rates. Data set were analysed using the Joinpoint Regression program.

RESULTS

A total of 81,918 individuals died of oral cavity/base of tongue cancers and lip cancer between 1980 and 2018 in Brazil. The age-adjusted mortality rate for women was 0.47 and 0.57 per 100,000 in 1980 and 2018, respectively. The cumulative female mortality rates standardized by age were 0.01/100,000 for lip cancer and 0.5/100,000 for oral cavity and base of tongue cancers. A decrease in deaths related to oral cavity and base of tongue cancers was identified in the 1980s; however, over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of deaths of women with cancer at the base of tongue and neighbouring areas and on the floor of mouth. Importantly, Brazilian regions showed wide variability in trends of oral cavity, base of tongue and lip cancers rate and, in 2018, the regions with the highest rates were the Southeast, South and Northeast for both sexes and specifically for women. The North region showed the greatest recent significant upward trend.

CONCLUSIONS

During the last 38 years, Brazil has shown a significant increase in the trend of the mortality rate due to oral cavity/base of tongue and lip cancers in women. Preventive strategies with control of risk factors should be strongly emphasized in order to improve the survival rates of individuals with oral cavity/base of tongue and lip cancers.

The influence of marital status on survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database analysis

BACKGROUND

To assess the influence of marital status on the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), we used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to analyze 5477 patients who were diagnosed with NPC from 2004 to 2016.

METHODS

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to analyze the influence of marital status on cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses was used to assess the influence of marital status on CSS based on different factors.

RESULTS

For the 5477 patients, 61.5%, 22.4%, and 16.1% were married, single/unmarried, and separated/widowed/divorced, respectively. The separated/widowed/divorced group was more likely to be female (P < .001), had the highest proportion of elderly subjects (P < .001), were mostly Caucasian (P < .001), had pathological grade I/II (P < .001), were likely to undergo surgery (P = .032), and were registered in the northeast, north-central, and south (P < .001) regions. The 5-year CSS rates were 92.6%, 92.4%, and 85.1% in the married, single/unmarried, and separated/widowed/divorced groups, respectively (P < .001), and the 5-year OS rates were 60.7%, 54.6%, and 40.1%, respectively (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Marital status is an independent prognostic factor of NPC. Separated/widowed/divorced patients had a significantly increased risk of NPC-related death (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.180, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.721-2.757, P < .001) compared to married patients. The single/unmarried (P = .355) group had a CSS similar to that of the unmarried group. Marital status is an independent prognostic factor of survival in NPC patients. Separated/widowed/divorced status increases the risk of NPC mortality.

Oral Cancer Prevalence, Mortality, and Costs in Medicaid and Commercial Insurance Claims Data

BACKGROUND

This study compared prevalence, incidence, mortality rates, treatment costs, and risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OC/OPC) between two large United States adult cohorts in 2012-2019.

METHODS

Medicaid and commercial claims data came from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan Database. Logistic regression analyses estimated incidence and risk factors for OC/OPC. Mortality was calculated by merging deceased individuals' files with those of the existing cancer cohort. Summing costs of outpatient and inpatient services determined costs.

RESULTS

Prevalence of OC/OPC in Medicaid enrollees decreased each year (129.8 cases per 100,000 enrollees in 2012 to 88.5 in 2019); commercial enrollees showed a lower, more stable prevalence (64.7 per 100,000 in 2012 and 2019). Incidence trended downward in both cohorts, with higher incidence in the Medicaid (51.4-37.6 cases per 100,000) than the commercial cohort (31.9-31.0 per 100,000). Mortality rates decreased for Medicaid enrollees during 2012-2014 but increased in the commercial cohort. OC/OPC treatment costs were higher for commercial enrollees by $8.6 million during 2016-2019. OC/OPC incidence was higher among adults who were older, male, and white; used tobacco or alcohol; or had prior human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome diagnosis and lower among those who had seen a dentist the prior year.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicaid enrollees experienced higher OC/OPC incidence, prevalence, and mortality compared with commercially insured adults. Having seen a dentist within the prior year was associated with a lower risk of OC/OPC diagnosis.

IMPACT

Expanding Medicaid dental benefits may allow OC/OPC to be diagnosed at earlier stages through regular dental visits.

Socioeconomic influence on treatment and outcome of patients with oral cancer in Germany

PURPOSE

To illustrate the influence of different socioeconomic factors on the treatment and outcome of patients in Germany with oral cancer.

METHODS

In this retrospective single-center study, 400 patients of our department of oral and maxillofacial surgery with primary cases of oral cancer were included. Preoperative diagnostics, occupational groups, and marital and health insurance status were evaluated. Overall and disease-specific survival were analyzed. Occupations were distinguished in 5 groups (unemployed, physically light workers, physically hard worker, university graduate, and freelancer). Data were adjusted to covariables like tumor size, positive lymph nodes, age, alcohol, or tobacco abuse.

RESULTS

There was no differences between private and statutory insured patients concerning overall (p = 0.858) or disease-specific survival (p = 0.431). Private insured patients received more preoperative PET-CT (p = 0.046) and had a better dental status (p = 0.006). The occupational groups showed also no differences in survival (p = 0.963). The hospitalization of freelancers was in average 2 days shorter. Physically hard workers were diagnosed with bigger tumors (p = 0.018) and consumed more tobacco and alcohol. The 5-year survival rate of married patients was approximately 20% points better than not married patients, without showing a significant difference over the entire observation time (p = 0.084).

CONCLUSION

In our cohort, socioeconomic factors have just a limited influence on the survival or treatment of patients with oral cancer. A sufficient statutory health insurance system is a reasonable explanation for this.

Health Insurance Coverage and Survival Outcomes among Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: A SEER Retrospective Analysis

Objectives Insurance coverage plays a critical role in head and neck cancer care. This retrospective study examines how insurance coverage affects nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survival in the United States using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program database.

Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 2,278 patients aged 20 to 64 years according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) codes C11.0–C11.9 and ICD-O histology codes 8070–8078 and 8080–8083 between 2007 and 2016 were included and grouped into privately insured, Medicaid, and uninsured groups. Log-rank test and multivariable Cox's proportional hazard model were performed.

Main Outcome Measures Tumor stage, age, sex, race, marital status, disease stage, year of diagnosis, median household county income, and disease-specific survival outcomes including cause of death were analyzed.

Results Across all tumor stages, privately insured patients had a 59.0% lower mortality risk than uninsured patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.410, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.320, 0.526], p < 0.01). Medicaid patients were also estimated to have 19.0% lower mortality than uninsured patients (HR: 0.810, 95% CI: [0.626, 1.048], p = 0.108). Privately insured patients with regional and distant NPC had significantly better survival outcomes compared with uninsured individuals. Localized tumors did not show any association between survival and type of insurance coverage.

Conclusion Privately insured individuals had significantly better survival outcomes than uninsured or Medicaid patients, a trend that was preserved after accounting for tumor grade, demographic and clinicopathologic factors. These results underscore the difference in survival outcomes when comparing privately insured to Medicaid/uninsured populations and warrant further investigation in efforts for health care reform.

Evaluation of Patient-Reported Delays and Affordability-Related Barriers to Care in Head and Neck Cancer

Objective

To examine the prevalence and predictors of patient-reported barriers to care among survivors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and the association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Outpatient oncology clinic at an academic tertiary care center.

Methods

Data were obtained from the UNC Health Registry/Cancer Survivorship Cohort. Barriers to care included self-reported delays in care and inability to obtain needed care due to cost. HRQOL was measured with validated questionnaires: general (PROMIS) and cancer specific (FACT-GP).

Results

The sample included 202 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with a mean age of 59.6 years (SD, 10.0). Eighty-two percent were male and 87% were White. Sixty-two patients (31%) reported at least 1 barrier to care. Significant predictors of a barrier to care in unadjusted analysis included age ≤60 years ( P = .007), female sex ( P = .020), being unmarried ( P = .016), being uninsured ( P = .047), and Medicaid insurance ( P = .022). Patients reporting barriers to care had significantly worse physical and mental HRQOL on the PROMIS questionnaires ( P < .001 and P = .002, respectively) and lower cancer-specific HRQOL on the FACT-GP questionnaire ( P < .001), which persisted across physical, social, emotional, and functional domains. There was no difference in 5-year OS (75.3% vs 84.1%, P = .177) or 5-year CSS (81.6% vs 85.4%, P = .542) in patients with and without barriers to care.

Conclusion

Delay- and affordability-related barriers are common among survivors of head and neck cancer and appear to be associated with significantly worse HRQOL outcomes. Certain sociodemographic groups appear to be more at risk of patient-reported barriers to care.

An equity-based narrative review of barriers to timely postoperative radiation therapy for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The majority of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) do not commence postoperative radiation treatment (PORT) within the recommended 6 weeks. We explore how delayed PORT affects survival outcomes, what factors are associated with delayed PORT initiation, and what interventions exist to reduce delays in PORT initiation.

METHODS

We conducted a PubMed search to identify articles discussing timely PORT for HNSCC. We performed a narrative review to assess survival outcomes of delayed PORT as well as social determinants of health (SDOH) and clinical factors associated with delayed PORT, using the PROGRESS-Plus health equity framework to guide our analysis. We reviewed interventions designed to reduce delays in PORT.

RESULTS

Delayed PORT is associated with reduced overall survival. Delays in PORT disproportionately burden patients of racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, Medicaid or no insurance, low socioeconomic status, limited access to care, more comorbidities, presentation at advanced stages, and those who experience postoperative complications. Delays in PORT initiation tend to occur during transitions in head and neck cancer care. Delays in PORT may be reduced by interventions that identify patients who are most likely to experience delayed PORT, support patients according to their specific needs and barriers to care, and streamline care and referral processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Both SDOH and clinical factors are associated with delays in timely PORT. Structural change is needed to reduce health disparities and promote equitable access to care for all. When planning care, providers must consider not only biological factors but also SDOH to maximize care outcomes.

Disparities in HPV knowledge by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position: Trusted sources for the dissemination of HPV information

PURPOSE

To examine the differences in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness, knowledge, and beliefs by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position (SEP) among a national sample of non-Hispanic whites (NH-Whites), non-Hispanic Blacks (NH-Blacks), and Hispanics in the United States. We also examine differences in trusted health information sources by race/ethnicity and SEP.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey, Cycle 1, conducted from January to April 2017. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, multivariate logistic regression, and listwise deletion were used to examine HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and knowledge-related items, and trust in health information sources among NH-Whites, NH-Blacks, and Hispanics 18-49 years old.

RESULTS

HPV vaccine awareness was moderate with no significant differences across racial/ethnic groups. NH-Whites had significantly higher knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer than NH-Blacks and Hispanics (p < 0.001). High SEP NH-Blacks (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = [0.24-0.73], p = 0.002]) and Hispanics (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = [0.31-0.79, p = 0.003]) had lower odds of knowing HPV causes a sexually transmitted disease than their white counterparts. Low SEP NH-Blacks (OR = 11.03, 95% CI = [3.05-39.86, p < 0.001]) had 11 times the odds of ever hearing about the HPV vaccine than low SEP NH-Whites. NH-Blacks had twice the odds of trusting health information from television (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = [1.52-3.78]. p < 0.001), and almost six times the odds of trusting health information from religious organizations than low SEP NH-Whites (OR = 5.76, 95% CI = [2.02-16.44, p < 0.001]).

CONCLUSION

Tailored communication strategies may address the low HPV knowledge among NH-Blacks and Hispanics from high and low SEP.

Survival outcomes for head and neck patients with Medicaid: A health insurance paradox

PURPOSE

Privately insured patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) typically have better outcomes; however, differential outcome among Medicaid versus the uninsured is unclear. We aimed to describe outcome disparities among HNC patients uninsured versus on Medicaid.

METHODS

A cohort of 18-64-year-old adults (n = 57 920) with index HNC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database (2007-2015) was analyzed using Fine and Gray multivariable competing risks proportional hazards models for HNC-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Medicaid (sdHR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.58, 1.72) and uninsured patients (sdHR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.46, 1.65) had significantly greater mortality hazard than non-Medicaid patients. Medicaid patients had increased HNC mortality hazard than those uninsured.

CONCLUSION

Compared with those uninsured, HNC patients on Medicaid did not have superior survival, suggesting that there may be underlying mechanisms/factors inherent in this patient population that could undermine access to care benefits from being on Medicaid.

Mono-institutional retrospective cohort analysis of the insurance status dependent access to ENT-professionals and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To access the influence of insurance status on time of diagnosis, quality of treatment and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS

This mono-institutional retrospective cohort analysis included all HNSCC patients (n = 1,054) treated between 2001 and 2011, and subdivided the cohort according to the insurance status. Differences between the groups were analyzed using the Chi square and the unpaired student's t-test. Survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression for forward selection.

RESULTS

Nine hundred twenty-five patients showed general, 129 private insurance. The 2 groups were equal regarding age, gender, tumor localization, therapy, and N/M/G/R-status. The T-status differed significantly between the groups showing more advanced tumors in patients with general insurance (p = 0.002). While recurrence-free survival was comparable in both groups, overall survival was significantly better in private patients (p = 0.009). The time frame between first symptom and diagnosis was equal in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The time frame between subjective percipience of first symptom and final therapy did not differ between the groups. In our cohort, access to otorhinolaryngological specialists is favorable in both, patients with general and private insurance. Recurrence-free survival was comparable in both groups, indicating successful HNSCC treatment both groups. However, overall survival was significantly better in patients with private insurance suggesting other socioeconomic factors influencing survival.

The impact of surgery refusal on thyroid cancer survival: a SEER-based analysis

PURPOSE

In the current era of de-escalation of surgical treatment for low-risk thyroid cancer, it is important to ensure that the natural history of thyroid cancer is as benign as has been suggested previously. We therefore compared the impact of surgery refusal and surgery on disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with local or regional, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

METHODS

Local and regional stage PTC patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (1988-2015) were included. Cox proportional hazard modeling and propensity score matching were conducted to evaluate DSS.

RESULTS

There were 45,136 patients who received surgery and 146 patients who had surgery recommended but refused. Adjusted analysis showed a significantly better DSS for the surgery group compared with the refusal group (HR_adj: 3.07 (95% CI: 1.54-6.11). After stratification for stage, no statistically significant difference in DSS was found (HR_adj: 3.03 (0.89-10.35) when including only local stage PTC. Propensity matching showed a 10-year DSS of 94.0% (95% CI: 87.7-97.1%) and 96.4% (95% CI: 93.2-98.1%) for the refusal and surgery group (p = 0.060). Propensity matching of local stage PTC showed a 10-year DSS of 96.7% (95% CI: 89.9-98.9%) and 100%, respectively (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Although no significant difference in survival was found between surgery and no surgery in local stage PTC, a 3.3% improvement of 10-year DSS was found in the surgery group. Overall, these results suggest that local stage PTC has a benign natural history, and that conservative management strategies such as active surveillance may be appropriate.

Insurance Status as a Predictor of Treatment in Human Papillomavirus Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer

OBJECTIVES

The link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is well known. Locally advanced, HPV-positive OPC (HPV OPC) can be treated with either chemoradiation or primary surgery with or without adjuvant therapy. Head and neck cancer patients with government insurance or uninsured have been shown to have worse prognosis than similar patients with private insurance. In this study, we aimed to determine if insurance status would predict treatment modality in patients with HPV OPC.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with HPV OPC who underwent primary surgery or primary chemoradiation from 2010-2015. Insurance status was categorized as government, private, or no insurance. The relationship between insurance status and treatment was investigated using Chi square and multivariate regression models. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed comparing overall survival (OS) by insurance status.

RESULTS

There were 10,606 patients were included. There was a statistically significant correlation between insurance status and primary treatment modality for HPV OPC (P < .001). Patients with government insurance were 19.3% less likely to undergo surgery and uninsured patients were 36.9% less likely to undergo primary surgery when compared to those with private insurance (P < .001), even after correcting for TNM stage in multivariate analysis. There was an improved 5-year OS for patients with private insurance (86.6%) versus both government insurance (68.4%) and no insurance (69.9%) (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with private insurance are more likely to undergo primary surgery in HPV OPC and have improved overall survival.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:776-781, 2021.

State Medicaid expansion status, insurance coverage and stage at diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

Only one in three head and neck cancer (HNC) patients present with early-stage disease. We aimed to quantify associations between state Medicaid expansions and changes in insurance coverage rates and stage at diagnosis of HNC.

METHODS

Using a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences (DID) approach and data from 26,330 cases included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (2011-2015), we retrospectively examined changes in insurance coverage and stage at diagnosis of adult HNC in states that expanded Medicaid (EXP) versus those that did not (NEXP).

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in Medicaid coverage in EXP (+1.6 percentage point (PP) versus) vs. NEXP (-1.8 PP) states (3.36 PP, 95% CI = 1.32, 5.41; p = 0.001), and this increase was mostly among residents of low income and education counties. We also observed a reduction in uninsured rates among HNC patients in low income counties (-4.17 PP, 95% CI = -6.84, -1.51; p = 0.002). Overall, early stage diagnosis rates were 28.3% (EXP) vs. 26.7% (NEXP), with significant increases in early stage diagnosis post-Medicaid expansion among young adults, 18-34 years (17.2 PP, 95% CI - 1.34 to 33.1, p = 0.034), females (7.54 PP, 95% CI = 2.00 to 13.10, p = 0.008), unmarried patients (3.83 PP, 95% CI = 0.30-7.35, p = 0.033), and patients with lip cancer (13.5 PP, 95% CI = 2.67-24.3, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

Medicaid expansion is associated with improved insurance coverage rates for HNC patients, particularly those with low income, and increases in early stage diagnoses for young adults and women.

Change in stage of presentation of head and neck cancer in the United States before and after the affordable care act

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

Early diagnosis and stage at presentation, two prognostic factors for survival among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), are significantly impacted by a patient's health insurance status. We aimed to assess the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on stage at presentation across socioeconomic and demographic subpopulations of HNC patients in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective data analysis.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database, a hospital-based cancer database (2011-2015), was queried for adults aged 18-64 years and diagnosed with a malignant primary HNC. The outcome of interest was change in early-stage diagnoses between 2011-2013 (pre-ACA) and 2014-2015 (post-ACA) using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 91,137 HNC cases were identified in the pre-ACA (n = 53,726) and post-ACA (n = 37,411) years. Overall, the odds of early-stage diagnoses did not change significantly post-ACA (aOR = 0.97, 95 % CI 0.94, 1.00; p = 0.081). However, based on health insurance status, HNC patients with Medicaid were significantly more likely to present with early-stage disease post-ACA (aOR = 1.12, 95 % CI 1.03, 1.21; p = 0.007). We did not observe increased odds of early-stage presentation for other insurance types. Males were less likely to present with early-stage disease, pre- or post-ACA.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate a significant association between ACA implementation and increased early-stage presentation among Medicaid-enrolled HNC patients. This suggests that coverage expansions through the ACA may be associated with increased access to care and may yield greater benefits among low-income HNC patients.

Sociodemographic correlates of head and neck cancer survival among patients with metastatic disease

BACKGROUND

To describe sociodemographic factors associated with head and neck cancer (HNC) survival among patients with distant metastatic disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed national data for 2889 adult patients with metastatic HNC (2007-2015). We used Fine and Gray competing risks proportional hazard models, stratified by oropharyngeal cancer status, controlled for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, and insurance status), and accounted for multiple testing.

RESULTS

Median survival time was 11 months (15 months for patients married/partnered; 13 months for patients with non-Medicaid insurance; P < .01). Among patients with oropharyngeal cancer, being married/partnered was associated with lower mortality hazard (sdHR_{divorced/separated} = 1.37, 97.5% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07, 1.75; and sdHR_{never married} = 1.43, 97.5% CI = 1.14, 1.80), as was having non-Medicaid insurance (sdHR_uninsured = 1.44, 97.5% CI = 1.02, 2.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Health insurance and marital status are sociodemographic factors associated with survival among HNC patients with distant metastatic disease, especially in oropharyngeal cases.