Association of significant financial burden with survival for head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation therapy

Gaps in Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care for Patients Living With and Beyond Cancer: We Must Do Better

Delivery of high-quality, evidence-based oral care for those living with and beyond cancer needed!

Human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA assays as a mechanism for head and neck cancer equity in rural regions of the United States

The rates of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC) are rising worldwide and in the United States, particularly in rural regions including Appalachia. Rural areas face unique health challenges resulting in higher cancer incidence and mortality rates, and this includes HPV-OPC. The recent advent of highly sensitive liquid biopsies for the non-invasive detection of HPV-OPC recurrence (circulating tumor HPV DNA, HPV ctDNA) has been swiftly adopted as part of surveillance paradigms. Though knowledge gaps persist regarding its use and clinical trials are ongoing, the ease of collection and cost-effectiveness of HPV ctDNA make it more accessible for HPV-OPC survivors than usual surveillance methods of frequent exams and imaging. Herein, we discuss how implementing HPV ctDNA assays in rural regions of the United States provide one poignant example of how liquid biopsies can improve cancer care equity.

Neighborhood Deprivation and Symptoms, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Importance

Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with increased risk of poor health and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. However, there are few data on how neighborhood deprivation affects patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in HNC survivors.

Objective

To investigate whether neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation is associated with symptom burden, psychological distress, and QOL among HNC survivors.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used prospectively collected data from patients seen in a university-affiliated multidisciplinary HNC survivorship clinic between September 2018 and September 2021 who received radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx or hypopharynx.

Exposure

Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, measured using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The PROMs pertaining to symptom burden and severity of psychological distress were measured using the Neck Disability Index, Insomnia Severity Index, the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Physical and social-emotional QOL were obtained using the University of Washington QOL questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for individual-level sociodemographic, comorbidity, and treatment characteristics investigated the association between ADI and PROMs. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare the lowest (most affluent areas: ADI, 0%-20%) and highest (most deprived areas: ADI, 80%-100%) ADI quintiles.

Results

A total of 277 patients were included in the final analysis (mean [SD] age, 64.18 [9.60] years; 215 [77.6%] male). Cancer sites were the oral cavity (52 [18.8%]), oropharyngeal area (171 [61.7%]), and larynx or hypopharynx (54 [19.5%]). Multivariable analysis showed that for every 1-point increase in ADI, social-emotional QOL changed by -0.14 points (95% CI, -0.24 to -0.05 points), anxiety increased by 0.03 points (95% CI, 0.01-0.06 points), and neck disability worsened by 0.05 points (95% CI, 0.01-0.10 points). Compared with patients in the most affluent areas, those in the most deprived areas had significantly lower physical (-15.89 points; 95% CI, -25.96 to -2.31 points; Cohen d = -0.83) and social-emotional (-13.57 points; 95% CI, -22.79 to -3.49 points; Cohen d = -0.69) QOL and higher depression (2.60 points; 95% CI, 0.21-4.40 points; Cohen d = 0.52), anxiety (3.12 points; 95% CI, 1.56-4.66 points; Cohen d = 0.61), insomnia (3.55 points; 95% CI, 0.33-6.41 points; Cohen d = 0.54), and neck disability (5.65 points; 95% CI, 1.66-9.55 points; Cohen d = 0.66) scores.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, a higher ADI score was associated with higher risk of increased psychological distress, higher symptom burden, and decreased QOL after treatment among HNC survivors. These findings suggest that proactive, patient-centered interventions are needed to address these disparities.

Measuring financial toxicity in head and neck cancer: a systematic review

Objective

The current study systematically reviews the literature about financial toxicity (FT) in head and neck cancer patients. Three databases were reviewed: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science.

Methods

Full text English papers published from 2000 to 2022 reporting on quantitative results about FT in head and neck cancer survivors collected through structured questionnaires or interviews were included.

Results

Twenty-seven articles were included. Most of the articles were published after 2015 and from United States. There was a slight prevalence of papers dealing with oropharyngeal cancer, squamous-cell carcinoma and locally advanced head and neck cancer. Measures of FT were obtained through validated questionnaires like COST, FIT and FDQ. Collected data were mostly referrable to financial spending, financial resources, psychosocial aspect, support seeking, coping care and coping lifestyle subdomain. FT scores by COST were found to be worse in the COVID era. Financial counseling and adequate information about the costs of treatment were two effective strategies to mitigate FT.

Conclusions

FT is a relatively new challenge in head and neck cancer treatment, whose expenses are higher than therapies for other cancers. A universal method to assess FT and a unified guideline for the administration of questionnaires are needed to mitigate FT and to improve patient outcomes.

Assessment of the prevalence and related factors of financial toxicity in cancer patients based on the COST scale: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The high cost of cancer treatment exposes patients to financial toxicity during treatment; however, no study has comprehensively analyzed the incidence of financial toxicity using a validated assessment tool. In this study, the objective was to ascertain the incidence of financial toxicity in cancer patients and the factors influencing it.

METHODS

Nine electronic databases were retrieved to collect cross-sectional studies reporting financial toxicity in cancer patients. A random effects meta-analysis was applied to yield the overall prevalence of financial toxicity. Subgroup analyses were conducted depending on the factors affecting financial toxicity.

RESULTS

In total, 30 studies met our inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of financial toxicity in cancer patients was 48% (95%CI:38%-58%, I2 = 99.4%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, a higher prevalence of financial toxicity in patients aged <67 years (47%, 95%CI: 28%-66%, I2 = 97.5%, p < 0.001), female (46%, 95%CI:39%-53%, I2 = 94.9%,p < 0.001), lung cancer(57%, 95%CI:38%-75%, I2 = 96.9%, p < 0.001), developing countries (64%, 95%CI:55%-72%, I2 = 98.1%, p < 0.001), time of investigation following COVID-19 (53%, 95%CI:37%-69%, I2 = 99.4%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Financial toxicity is prevalent in cancer patients and is increasingly evident after COVID-19. Furthermore, the odds of financial toxicity are higher in patients who are female, younger, whose cancer type is lung cancer, and from developing countries. These findings emphasize the significance of evaluating financial toxicity in cancer patients after COVID-19, especially in developing countries. This may play a pivotal role in helping patients cope with financial toxicity.

Machine learning prediction of pathological complete response and overall survival of breast cancer patients in an underserved inner-city population

BACKGROUND

Generalizability of predictive models for pathological complete response (pCR) and overall survival (OS) in breast cancer patients requires diverse datasets. This study employed four machine learning models to predict pCR and OS up to 7.5 years using data from a diverse and underserved inner-city population.

METHODS

Demographics, staging, tumor subtypes, income, insurance status, and data from radiology reports were obtained from 475 breast cancer patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy in an inner-city health system (01/01/2012 to 12/31/2021). Logistic regression, Neural Network, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosted Regression models were used to predict outcomes (pCR and OS) with fivefold cross validation.

RESULTS

pCR was not associated with age, race, ethnicity, tumor staging, Nottingham grade, income, and insurance status (p > 0.05). ER-/HER2+ showed the highest pCR rate, followed by triple negative, ER+/HER2+, and ER+/HER2- (all p < 0.05), tumor size (p < 0.003) and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) (p < 0.01). Machine learning models ranked ER+/HER2-, ER-/HER2+, tumor size, and BPE as top predictors of pCR (AUC = 0.74-0.76). OS was associated with race, pCR status, tumor subtype, and insurance status (p < 0.05), but not ethnicity and incomes (p > 0.05). Machine learning models ranked tumor stage, pCR, nodal stage, and triple-negative subtype as top predictors of OS (AUC = 0.83-0.85). When grouping race and ethnicity by tumor subtypes, neither OS nor pCR were different due to race and ethnicity for each tumor subtype (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Tumor subtypes and imaging characteristics were top predictors of pCR in our inner-city population. Insurance status, race, tumor subtypes and pCR were associated with OS. Machine learning models accurately predicted pCR and OS.

Severe Oral Mucositis After Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Importance

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating adverse effect observed in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receiving radiation therapy (RT). Previous studies examining associations between OM and clinical outcomes were performed in the era of 3-dimensional conformal RT planning with low rates of concurrent chemotherapy, and thus may not reflect current practice.

Objective

To prospectively assess patient-reported OM and identify its associations with clinical outcomes and quality of life.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study performed at a single institution included 702 consecutive patients who underwent definitive or adjuvant intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) for primary HNC from February 9, 2015, to May 27, 2022. Data were analyzed from November 28, 2022, to August 18, 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Severity of OM was assessed based on highest reported mouth and throat soreness (MTS) score during radiotherapy according to the Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire-Head and Neck Cancer survey, which was administered weekly during IMRT. Linear mixed models were used to compare mean MTS scores grouped by disease site and chemotherapy regimen. Fisher exact tests and 1-way analysis of variance tests were performed to identify associations between severity of OM and clinical outcomes.

Results

Among 576 eligible patients, the median age was 62.5 (IQR, 56.3-69.1) years, and 451 patients (78.3%) were men. In terms of race and ethnicity, 6 patients (1.0%) were American Indian or Alaska Native; 2 (0.3%), Asian; 31 (5.4%), Black; 8 (1.4%), Hispanic or Latino; 509 (88.4%), White; and 28 (4.9%), unknown. The most common treatment site was oropharynx (268 [46.5%]), and most patients received concurrent chemotherapy (464 [80.6%]). By the end of treatment, 360 patients (62.5%) developed severe OM and 568 (98.6%) developed some degree of OM. Linear mixed models found no significant differences in OM between HNC disease sites. Groups with greater highest severity of OM reported had higher rates of measured outcomes (listed respectively by MTS score 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4): feeding tube placement (0%, 3.6% [2 of 56], 6.6% [10 of 152], 14.7% [40 of 272], and 21.6% [19 of 88]; P = .001), hospitalization (12.5% [1 of 8], 10.7% [6 of 56], 15.1% [23 of 152], 23.9% [65 of 272], and 28.4% [25 of 88]; P = .02), opiate use (0%, 19.6% [11 of 56], 42.8%[65 of 152], 61.4% [167 of 272], and 64.8% [57 of 88]; P < .001) and experienced greater weight loss (median, -0.7 [IQR, -1.7 to -0.4] kg; median, 3.9 [IQR, 1.1 to 6.1] kg; median, 5.0 [IQR, 2.2 to 7.7] kg; median, 4.7 [IQR, 2.1 to 7.7] kg; and median, 7.7 [IQR, 2.8 to 10.6] kg; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of patients with HNC, 62.5% developed severe OM. Higher severity of OM was associated with feeding tube placement, hospitalization, opiate use, and weight loss. Improvements in OM prevention and management are needed.

Financial toxicity in patients with leukemia undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A systematic review

Financial toxicity (FT) is a term used to describe the objective financial burden of cancer care including the associated coping behaviors used by patients and their caregivers. FT has been shown to result in both direct financial burdens and in clinically relevant outcomes, such as non-adherence with care, diminished quality of life, and even decreased overall survival. Much of the data has been described in solid tumors, with limited investigations in the malignant hematology population. Patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face a unique financial burden driven by lengthy hospitalizations and acute and chronic morbidity that have downstream implications on their income and costs. In this review, we discuss the prevalence of FT in patients with leukemia who are eligible for HSCT. We review the impact of FT on financial and clinical outcomes and the role of various interventions that have been studied within this population.

Financial Toxicity and Out-of-Pocket Costs for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

AIM

To quantify financial toxicity and out-of-pocket costs for patients with HNC in Australia and explore their relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was administered to patients with HNC 1-3 years after radiotherapy at a regional hospital in Australia. The survey included questions on sociodemographics, out-of-pocket expenses, HRQoL, and the Financial Index of Toxicity (FIT) tool. The relationship between high financial toxicity scores (top quartile) and HRQoL was explored.

RESULTS

Of the 57 participants included in the study, 41 (72%) reported out-of-pocket expenses at a median of AUD 1796 (IQR AUD 2700) and a maximum of AUD 25,050. The median FIT score was 13.9 (IQR 19.5) and patients with high financial toxicity (n = 14) reported poorer HRQoL (76.5 vs. 114.5, p < 0.001). Patients who were not married had higher FIT scores (23.1 vs. 11.1, p = 0.01), as did those with lower education (19.3 vs. 11.1, p = 0.06). Participants with private health insurance had lower financial toxicity scores (8.3 vs. 17.6, p = 0.01). Medications (41%, median AUD 400), dietary supplements (41%, median AUD 600), travel (36%, median AUD 525), and dental (29%, AUD 388) were the most common out-of-pocket expenses. Participants living in rural locations (≥100 km from the hospital) had higher out-of-pocket expenses (AUD 2655 vs. AUD 730, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Financial toxicity is associated with poorer HRQoL for many patients with HNC following treatment. Further research is needed to investigate interventions aimed at reducing financial toxicity and how these can best be incorporated into routine clinical care.

Financial toxicity among head and neck cancer patients and their caregivers: A cross‐sectional pilot study

Objectives

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients experience greater financial toxicity than other cancer patients. Research on financial toxicity has concentrated on patients despite many informal caregivers sharing finances and reducing work hours to provide patient care. Thus, our pilot study: (1) assessed the feasibility of financial toxicity screening of HNC patients and their caregivers, and (2) described financial toxicity levels of HNC patients and their caregivers.

Methods

We surveyed English-speaking adult HNC patients initiating treatment at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and their informal caregivers. This survey assessed demographics and financial toxicity through the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) measure (0-44 range; lower score indicates higher financial toxicity). Screening feasibility was defined as ≥50% consent rate and ≥60% data completion rate.

Results

Our sample included 27 HNC patients and 9 caregivers. They both had slightly lower consent and completion rates than our goals. Patients reported a median COST score of 27 while caregivers reported a median COST score of 16. Approximately 25.9% of patients and 44.4% of caregivers reported high financial toxicity (COST < 17.5). Caregivers reported high concerns about their future financial health and their ability to control the amount of their financial contributions to the patient's care.

Conclusions

Patients and caregivers may require additional outreach approaches beyond emailed questionnaires to screen for their financial toxicity systematically. Future research is needed to replicate our results to determine whether differences in financial toxicity occur between patients and caregivers and identify areas of focus for interventions.

Level of evidence

IV.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: THE THIRD MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE SYMPOSIUM ON CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE AT ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, BUFFALO, NY, SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2023

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Symposia on Cancer Research and Care (MSCS-CRC) promote collaborations between cancer researchers and care providers in the United States, Canada and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies, advance early detection and prevention, increase cancer awareness, and improve cancer care and the quality of life of patients and their families. The third edition of MSCS-CRC, held at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, in September 2023, brought together 137 participants from 20 academic institutions in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia and Hungary, together with 16 biotech and pharma entities. The key areas of collaborative opportunity identified during the meeting are a) creating of a database of available collaborative projects in the areas of early-phase clinical trials, preclinical development, and identification of early biomarkers; b) promoting awareness of cancer risks and efforts at cancer prevention; c) laboratory and clinical training; and d) sharing experience in cost-effective delivery of cancer care and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Examples of ongoing international collaborations in the above areas were discussed. Participation of the representatives of the Warsaw-based Medical Research Agency, National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States, National Cancer Research Institutes of Poland and Lithuania, New York State Empire State Development, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Translational Research Cancer Center Consortium of 13 cancer centers from the US and Canada, facilitated the discussion of available governmental and non-governmental funding initiatives in the above areas.

ED visits, hospital admissions and treatment breaks in head/neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Objectives

Radiation therapy (RT) is an integral part of treatment of head/neck cancer (HNC) but is associated with many toxicities. We sought to evaluate sociodemographic, pathologic, and clinical factors associated with emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions (HA), and RT breaks in HNC patients undergoing curative-intent RT.

Methods

We completed a Level 3 (Oxford criteria for evidence-based medicine) analysis of a cohort of HNC patients who underwent curative-intent RT at our institution from 2013 to 2017. We collected demographic characteristics and retrospectively assessed for heavy opioid use, ED visits or HA during RT as well as RT breaks. Treatment breaks were defined as total days to RT fractions ratio ≥1.6. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression analyses were done to determine the association of various sociodemographic, pathologic, and clinical characteristics with ED visits, HA and RT treatment breaks.

Results

The cohort included 376 HNC patients (294 male, 82 female, median age 61). On multivariable analysis, significant factors associated with ED visits during RT were heavy opioid use and black race. Receipt of concomitant chemotherapy was the only factor associated with hospital admissions during RT. Advanced age, lower socioeconomic class, glandular site, and receipt of chemotherapy were all independently associated with RT breaks. Lower cancer stage and lack of substance abuse history were independently associated with lack of treatment breaks.

Conclusion

HNC patients with factors such as heavy opioid use, Black race, receipt of concomitant chemotherapy, and lower socioeconomic class may require closer monitoring during RT.

Predictors of Financial Toxicity in Patients Receiving Concurrent Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy

Purpose

Financial toxicity (FT) is a significant concern for patients with cancer. We reviewed prospectively collected data to explore associations with FT among patients undergoing concurrent, definitive chemoradiation therapy (CRT) within a diverse, urban, academic radiation oncology department.

Methods and Materials

Patients received CRT in 1 of 3 prospective trials. FT was evaluated before CRT (baseline) and then weekly using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 questionnaire. Patients were classified as experiencing FT if they answered ≥2 on a Likert scale question (1-4 points) asking if they experienced FT. Rate of change of FT was calculated using linear regression; worsening FT was defined as increase ≥1 point per month. χ², t tests, and logistic regression were used to assess predictors of FT.

Results

Among 233 patients, patients attended an average of 9 outpatient and 4 radiology appointments over the 47 days between diagnosis and starting CRT. At baseline, 52% of patients reported experiencing FT. Advanced T stage (odds ratio, 2.47; P = .002) was associated with baseline FT in multivariate analysis. The mean rate of FT change was 0.23 Likert scale points per month. In total, 26% of patients demonstrated worsening FT during CRT. FT at baseline was not associated with worsening FT (P = .98). Hospitalization during treatment was associated with worsening FT (odds ratio, 2.30; P = .019) in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Most patients reported FT before CRT. These results suggest that FT should be assessed (and, potentially, addressed) before starting definitive treatment because it develops early in a patient's cancer journey. Reducing hospitalizations may mitigate worsening FT. Further research is warranted to design interventions to reduce FT and avoid hospitalizations.

Health insurance literacy among head and neck cancer patients and their caregivers: A cross-sectional pilot study

Objective

Health insurance literacy interventions may reduce financial burden and its effects on cancer patients and their caregivers. However, little is known about the health insurance literacy levels of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. We assessed the feasibility of screening for health insurance literacy in a pilot study and described the health insurance literacy levels of HNC patients and their caregivers.

Methods

We administered a survey that assessed demographics and subjective and objective health insurance literacy to HNC patients and their caregivers. Subjective health insurance literacy was measured through the Health Insurance Literacy Measure (score range: 0-84). Objective health insurance literacy was measured through correct answers to a previously developed 10-question knowledge test. Due to a small sample size, inferential statistics were not used; we instead descriptively reported findings.

Results

The pilot included 48 HNC patients and 13 caregivers. About 44.4% of patients and 30.8% of caregivers demonstrated low health insurance literacy (HILM ≤60). On the 10-item knowledge test, patients had an average of 6.8 (SD: 2.3) correct responses and caregivers had 7.8 (SD: 1.1) correct responses. Calculating out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network services was challenging; only 9.5% of patients and 0% of caregivers answered correctly.

Conclusion

Additional outreach strategies may be needed to supplement screening for health insurance literacy. Areas of focus for interventions include improving understanding of how to calculate financial responsibility for health care services and filing an appeal for health insurance claim denial.

Level of Evidence

IV.

Financial Hardship in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

PURPOSE

Financial hardship is a growing concern for patients with cancer. Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are particularly vulnerable, given that a third leave the workforce following treatment. The goal of our study was to characterize financial hardship in the psychologic response (response to increased expenses) and coping behaviors (behaviors patients adopt to manage their care in the setting of increased expenses) domains in patients with HNC compared with patients with other cancers.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of nationally representative public survey data from 2013 to 2018 in the National Health Interviews Survey, an annual cross-sectional household survey. We included respondents age ≥ 18 years who reported a diagnosis of cancer and identified a subset of patients with HNC. Our main outcomes were financial hardship in the psychologic response and coping behaviors domains.

RESULTS

Our sample included a weighted population of 357,052 patients with HNC and 21.4 million patients with other cancers. Compared with patients with other cancers, patients with HNC reported greater levels of coping behaviors hardship (31% v 23%, P = .015), but similar levels of psychologic financial hardship (73% v 72%, P = .787). Medicaid or uninsured patients more often reported coping behaviors hardship. On multivariable analysis, HNC (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.24) was independently associated with coping behaviors hardship.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate financial hardship in patients with HNC compared with patients with other cancers that includes Medicaid and uninsured patients, who are more often to have financial hardship. Patients with HNC have greater levels of hardship in the coping behaviors domain compared with patients with other cancers, but similar levels in the psychologic response domain.

Out-of-Pocket Costs and Provider Payments in Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

BACKGROUND

As healthcare spending within the United States grows, payers have attempted to curb spending through higher cost sharing for patients. For families attempting to balance financial obligations with their children's surgical needs, high cost sharing could place families in difficult situations, deciding between life-altering surgery and bankruptcy. We aim to investigate trends in patient cost sharing and provider payments for cleft lip and palate repair.

METHODS

The IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database was queried to extract patients younger than 18 years who underwent primary or secondary cleft lip and/or palate repair from 2007 to 2016. Financial variables included gross payments to the provider (facility and/or physician), net payment as reported by the carrier, coordination of benefits and other savings, and the beneficiary contribution, which consisted of patients' coinsurance, copay, and deductible payments. Linear regression was used to evaluate trends in payments over time. Poisson regression was used to trend the proportion of patients with a nonzero beneficiary contribution. All financial values were adjusted to 2016 dollars per the consumer price index to account for inflation.

RESULTS

The sample included 6268 cleft lip and 9118 cleft palate repair episodes. Total provider payments increased significantly from 2007 to 2016 for patients undergoing cleft lip (median, $2527.33 vs $5116.30, P 0.008) and palate ($1766.13 vs $3511.70, P < 0.001) repair. Beneficiary contribution also increased significantly for both cleft lip ($155.75 vs $193.31, P < 0.001) and palate ($124.37 vs $183.22, P < 0.001) repair, driven by an increase in deductibles ( P < 0.002). The proportion of cleft palate patients with a nonzero beneficiary contribution increased yearly by 1.6% ( P = 0.002). Higher provider payments and beneficiary contributions were found in the Northeast ( P < 0.001) and South ( P < 0.011), respectively, for both cleft lip and palate repair.

CONCLUSIONS

The US national data demonstrate that for commercially insured patients with cleft lip and/or palate, there has been a trend toward higher patient cost sharing, most pronounced in the South. This suggests that patients are bearing an increased cost burden while provider payments are simultaneously accelerating. Additional studies are needed to understand the impact of increased cost sharing on parents' decision to pursue cleft lip and/or palate repair for their children.

Financial toxicity in hematological malignancies: a systematic review

Hematologic malignancy outcomes have remarkably improved in the past decade with further advancement expected in future years. However, the detrimental effects of financial toxicity (FT) on patients with hematologic malignancies, because of both diagnoses and subsequent treatments, have not been studied comprehensively. We performed a systematic review of all studies reporting FT as a primary or secondary outcome among adult or pediatric patients with hematological malignancies. A total of 55 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across studies, 20-50% of patients reported some form of FT, including loss of work productivity, food and transportation costs, and depletion of savings. Younger age, lower-income level, unemployment, and rural residence were the most commonly identified risk factors for FT. Two studies looked at survival outcomes, with one reporting improvement in survival with a decrease in financial toxicity. However, significant heterogeneity in FT definitions was found between countries and payor systems. Only half of the studies (51%, n = 28) used validated survey instruments such as the COST assessment. The present systematic review identified that FT is common in patients with hematological malignancies and may be associated with poorer outcomes. However, studies of FT generally use non-standardized methods with cross-sectional analyses rather than longitudinal, prospective assessments. Further work is needed to standardize FT reporting and investigate measures to alleviate FT among patients with hematologic malignancies.

Disadvantaged Subgroups Within the Global Head and Neck Cancer Population: How Can We Optimize Care?

Within the global head and neck cancer population, there are subgroups of patients with poorer cancer outcomes independent from tumor characteristics. In this article, we review three such groups. The first group comprises patients with nasopharyngeal cancer in low- and middle-income countries where access to high-volume, well-resourced radiotherapy centers is limited. We discuss a recent study that is aiming to improve outcomes through the instigation of a comprehensive radiotherapy quality assurance program. The second group comprises patients with low socioeconomic status in a high-income country who experience substantial financial toxicity, defined as financial hardship for patients due to health care costs. We review causes and consequences of financial toxicity and discuss how it can be mitigated. The third group comprises older patients who may poorly tolerate and not benefit from intensive standard-of-care treatment. We discuss the role of geriatric assessment, particularly in relation to the use of chemotherapy. Through better recognition and understanding of disadvantaged groups within the global head and neck cancer population, we will be better placed to instigate the necessary changes to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer.

Linking Intermediate to Final “Real-World” Outcomes: Is Financial Toxicity a Reliable Predictor of Poorer Outcomes in Cancer?

Traditionally, economic evaluations are based on clinical trials with well-defined patient populations that exclude many patient types. By contrast, studies that incorporate general patient populations end up including those in lower income categories, some of whom have significant financial burdens (often described as financial toxicity) related to their care. Consideration of these patient burdens when examining the incremental cost-effectiveness of newer treatments from a clinical trial perspective can result in differing conclusions regarding cost-effectiveness. The challenge is to reliably assess the link between financial toxicity, quality of life and potential decisions to forego or delay care. It is also well-documented that these financial effects are not evenly distributed across populations, with those with low income and of black or Latino decent being most affected. There is a paucity of literature in this space, but some of the early work has suggested that for lung, breast, colorectal and ovarian cancers there are poorer quality-of-life scores and/or shorter overall survival for those experiencing financial toxicity. Hence, we may see both a lower quality of life and a shorter duration of life for these populations. If this is the case, additional considerations include: are the benefits of newer, more-expensive treatment strategies muted by the lack of adherence to these newer treatments due to financial concerns, and, if true, can these effects be effectively quantified as “real-world” outcomes? This rapid review examines these possibilities and the steps that may be required to examine this reliably.

Association of self-reported financial burden with quality of life and oncologic outcomes in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data on financial toxicity among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

MATERIALS

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients with HNSCC surveyed at an outpatient oncology clinic.

RESULTS

The sample included 202 patients with HNSCC with a mean age of 59.6 years (SD 10.0). There were 53 patients (26%) with self-reported financial burden. Education of high school or less was a significant predictor of self-reported financial burden (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.03-6.14, p = 0.042). Patients reporting financial burden had significantly worse physical (p = 0.003), mental (p = 0.003), and functional (p = 0.036) health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients reporting financial burden appeared to have lower 5-year overall survival (74.3% vs. 83.9%, p = 0.165), but this association did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Financial burden or toxicity may affect approximately a quarter of patients with HNSCC and appears to be associated with worse HRQOL outcomes.

Financial Counseling Is Associated with Reduced Financial Difficulty Scores in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy

BACKGROUND

Financial toxicity (FT) can be devastating to cancer patients, and solutions are urgently needed. We investigated the impact of financial counseling (FC) on FT in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

METHODS

Via a single-institution database, we reviewed the charts of HNC patients who underwent definitive or post-operative radiotherapy, from October 2013 to December 2020. Of these patients, 387 had provided baseline and post-treatment information regarding financial difficulty. In July 2018, a dedicated financial counselor was provided for radiation therapy patients and we subsequently examined the impact of FC on financial difficulty scores.

RESULTS

Following the hiring of a dedicated financial counselor, there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving FC (5.3% vs. 62.7%, p < 0.0001). Compared with baseline scores, patients who did not undergo FC had a significant increase in reported financial difficulty at the end of treatment (p = 0.002). On the other hand, there was no difference in pre- and post-treatment scores in patients who had received FC (p = 0.588). After adjusting for gender and nodal status with a multiple linear regression model, FC was significantly associated with change in financial difficulty (β = -0.204 ± 0.096, p = 0.035). On average, patients who received FC had a 0.2 units lower change in financial difficulty score as compared with those with the same gender and nodal stage but without FC.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing a dedicated financial counselor significantly increased the proportion of HNC receiving FC, resulting in the stabilization of financial difficulty scores post-treatment. Based on a multiple linear regression model, FC was independently associated with reduced financial difficulty. The employment of a financial counselor may be a viable, hospital-based approach to begin to address FT in HNC.