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Kobritz M, Nofi CP, Egunsola A, Zimmern AS. Financial toxicity in early-onset colorectal cancer: A National Health Interview Survey study. Surgery 2024; 175:1278-1284. [PMID: 38378347 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial toxicity is increasingly recognized as a devastating outcome of cancer treatment but is poorly characterized in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer. Young patients are particularly vulnerable to financial toxicity as they are frequently underinsured and may suffer significant disruptions to professional and financial growth. We hypothesized that financial toxicity associated with colorectal cancer treatment confers long-lasting effects on patients' well-being and disproportionately impacts patients diagnosed at <50 years of age. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the National Health Interview Survey from years 2019 to 2021 was performed. Patients with a history of colorectal cancer were included and stratified by age at diagnosis. Randomly selected age-matched controls with no cancer history were used for comparison. The primary endpoint was financial toxicity, as assessed by a composite score formulated from 12 National Health Interview Survey items. The secondary endpoint was food security assessed by the United States Department of Agriculture's food security scale, embedded in the National Health Interview Survey. RESULTS When compared to age-matched controls, patients with colorectal cancer experienced significant financial toxicity, as reflected by a composite financial toxicity score (P = .027). Within patients with colorectal cancer, female sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.46, P = .046) and early-onset disease (adjusted odds ratio = 2.11, P = .002) were found to significantly increase the risk of financial toxicity. Patients with early-onset colorectal cancer more frequently experienced food insecurity (P = .011), delayed necessary medical care (P = .053), mental health counseling (P = .043), and filling prescriptions (P = .007) due to cost when compared to patients with average-onset colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION Colorectal cancer is associated with significant long-term financial toxicity, which disproportionately impacts patients diagnosed at <50 years of age. Targeted interventions are warranted to reduce financial toxicity for patients with high-risk colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Kobritz
- Department of Surgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY; Department of Surgery, Northwell-North Shore/Long Island Jewish, Manhasset, NY.
| | - Colleen P Nofi
- Department of Surgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY; Department of Surgery, Northwell-North Shore/Long Island Jewish, Manhasset, NY
| | - Adekemi Egunsola
- Department of Surgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY; Department of Surgery, Northwell-North Shore/Long Island Jewish, Manhasset, NY
| | - Andrea S Zimmern
- Department of Surgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY; Department of Surgery, Northwell-North Shore/Long Island Jewish, Manhasset, NY
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Metin T, Uğur Ö, Özdemir SÇ, Gönderen A, Sunu C. The unknown impact of multiple myeloma: assessing the impact of financial well-being on quality of life of caregivers. Support Care Cancer 2023; 31:288. [PMID: 37079098 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-07751-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with multiple myeloma and their caregivers are financially burdened, and their quality of life is significantly affected by treatment costs and care expenses. The aim of our study is to examine the impact of financial well-being of the caregiver on the life quality of patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS The study included 113 patients with multiple myeloma and 113 caregivers in two hospitals located in Western Turkey. This study evaluated the demographic characteristics of patients and their caregivers, financial status, financial well-being, and quality of life of caregivers. Simple linear regression analyses were used to examine the impact of financial well-being on caregiver quality of life. RESULTS The average age of multiple myeloma patients and caregivers is 64.00 ± 11.05 and 48.02 ± 11.4, respectively. Of patients, 50.4% and 62.8% of their caregivers were female. It is determined that 51.3% of the patients were diagnosed in 1-5 years, 85% received chemotherapy, and 80.5% had an ECOG performance status between 0 and 1. Caregivers' quality of life and financial well-being were found to be low. On one hand, while caregivers' financial well-being (β = - 1.003; t = - 3.831; p = .000) negatively affected the quality of their lives, their financial satisfaction (β = 2.507; t = 3.820; p = .000) positively affected the quality of their lives, on the other hand. CONCLUSIONS Caregivers' quality of life declined as their financial well-being got worse. Decreased quality of life of caregivers may affect the quality of care they provide to patients with MM. Hence, this study recommends the following. First, nurses who care for patients with MM should always assess the financial situation of patients and caregivers. Second, patient navigators, hospital billing specialists, and social workers should provide financial guidance to multiple myeloma patients and caregivers and provide help in solving their financial problems. Finally, policies that support the financial situation of patients and caregivers should be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba Metin
- Simav Vocational School of Health Services, Kutahya Health Sciences University, Kutahya, Turkey.
| | - Özlem Uğur
- Department of Oncology Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey
| | | | - Aysun Gönderen
- Department of Hematology, Kutahya Health Sciences University Evliya Çelebi Training and Research Hospital, Kutahya, Turkey
| | - Cenk Sunu
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Adapazarı, Sakarya, Turkey
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Bradley CJ, Simon K, Winkfield K, Moy B. Enhancing Health Equity Through Cancer Health Economics Research. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2022; 2022:74-78. [PMID: 35788369 DOI: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer displays some of the largest health-equity concerns of all diseases. This paper draws attention to how health economics research can assess strategies to reduce or even eliminate health disparities and provides pivotal examples of existing research as well as areas for future contributions. The paper also highlights critical data limitations that currently restrain the impact health economics research could have. We then explore new areas of inquiry where economic research is sparse but could have an important impact on health equity, particularly in topics involving Medicare and Medicaid policies that expand reimbursement and generosity of coverage. Health economics studies are notably absent from policies and practices surrounding clinical trials, representing an opportunity for future research. We urge health economics researchers to consider experiments, interventions, and assessments through primary data collection; we further encourage the formulation of multidisciplinary teams to ensure that health economics skills are well melded with other areas of expertise. These teams are needed to maximize novelty and rigor of evidence. As policies are promulgated to address disparities in cancer, involvement of economics in a multidisciplinary context can help ensure that these policies do not have unintended impacts that may deepen inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy J Bradley
- Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Health Systems, Management and Policy and University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kosali Simon
- O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Karen Winkfield
- Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Beverly Moy
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Breast Oncology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Shankaran V, Unger JM, Darke AK, Suga JM, Wade JL, Kourlas PJ, Chandana SR, O’Rourke MA, Satti S, Liggett D, Hershman DL, Ramsey SD. S1417CD: A Prospective Multicenter Cooperative Group-Led Study of Financial Hardship in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 2022; 114:372-380. [PMID: 34981117 PMCID: PMC8902339 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djab210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial toxicity is a growing problem in oncology, but no prior studies have prospectively measured the financial impact of cancer treatment in a diverse national cohort of newly diagnosed cancer patients. S1417CD was the first cooperative group-led multicenter prospective cohort study to evaluate financial hardship in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. METHODS Patients aged 18 years or older within 120 days of mCRC diagnosis completed quarterly questionnaires for 12 months. We estimated the cumulative incidence of major financial hardship (MFH), defined as 1 or more of increased debt, new loans from family and/or friends, selling or refinancing home, or 20% or more income decline. We evaluated the association between patient characteristics and MFH using multivariate cox regression and the association between MFH and quality of life using linear regression. RESULTS A total of 380 patients (median age = 59.9 years) were enrolled; 77.7% were White, 98.0% insured, and 56.5% had annual income of $50 000 or less. Cumulative incidence of MFH at 12 months was 71.3% (95% confidence interval = 65.7% to 76.1%). Age, race, marital status, and income (split at $50 000 per year) were not statistically significantly associated with MFH. However, income less than $100 000 and total assets less than $100 000 were both associated with greater MFH. MFH at 3 months was associated with decreased social functioning and quality of life at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Nearly 3 out of 4 mCRC patients experienced MFH despite access to health insurance. These findings underscore the need for clinic and policy solutions that protect cancer patients from financial harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Shankaran
- Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA,Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA,Correspondence to: Veena Shankaran, MD, MS, Division of Medical Oncology, Associate Member, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, 825 Eastlake Ave E, MS LG-465, Seattle, WA 98109, USA (e-mail: )
| | - Joseph M Unger
- SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Amy K Darke
- SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - James L Wade
- Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois/Heartland NCORP, Decatur, IL, USA
| | - Peter J Kourlas
- Columbus Oncology Associates, Columbus/Columbus NCORP, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sreenivasa R Chandana
- Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan/Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan NCORP, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Mark A O’Rourke
- Prisma Health Cancer Institute/NCORP of the Carolinas (Prisma Health), Greenville, SC, USA
| | - Suma Satti
- Ochsner Cancer Institute, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Diane Liggett
- SWOG Data Operations Center/Cancer Research and Biostatistics (CRAB), Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Scott D Ramsey
- Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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