Morbidity and healthcare use among mothers of children with cancer: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

The impact of a child's cancer diagnosis on subsequent maternal physical health is unclear.

METHODS

We identified all Ontario children diagnosed less than 18 years with cancer between 1992 and 2017. Linkage to administrative databases identified mothers who were matched to population controls. We identified physical health conditions, acute healthcare use, and preventive healthcare use through validated algorithms using healthcare data, and compared them between exposed (child with cancer) and unexposed mothers. Predictors of health outcomes were assessed among exposed mothers.

RESULTS

We identified 5311 exposed mothers and 19,516 matched unexposed mothers. For exposed mothers, median age at last follow-up was 48 years, (interquartile range: 42-53). Exposed mothers had an increased risk of cancer (hazard ratio [HR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.0-1.5, p = .03), but not of any other adverse physical outcomes or of increased acute healthcare use. Exposed mothers were more likely to receive influenza vaccinations (odds ratio 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3-1.5, p < .0001), and underwent cancer screening at the same rate as unexposed mothers. Among exposed mothers, bereavement was associated with a subsequent increased risk of cancer (HR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.5, p = .004) and death (HR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2-4.1, p = .01).

CONCLUSION

Mothers of children with cancer are at increased risk of developing cancer, but not of other adverse physical health outcomes, and were equally or more likely to be adherent to preventive healthcare practices. Bereaved mothers were at increased risk of subsequent cancer and death. Interventions targeting specific subpopulations of mothers of children with cancer or focused on screening for specific cancers may be warranted.

Factors Associated With Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors Among Women With Dense Breasts

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify patient factors associated with patient-reported screening behaviors in women with dense breasts.

METHODS

An IRB-approved survey study of women with dense breasts presenting for annual screening mammography at an outpatient imaging center was previously conducted from March 2017 to February 2018. The survey included questions regarding mammographic screening frequency and recent participation in supplemental screening. These survey data were combined post hoc with clinical and demographic data and socioeconomic data imputed from census data. Logistic regression was used to identify patient factors associated with reported screening behaviors.

RESULTS

Surveys were completed by 508 women (median age, 59.0 years; range, 31.0-86.0 years) with dense breasts. Multivariable analysis demonstrated an independent association of undergoing mammographic screening annually with a history of discussing breast density with a doctor (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.60; P = 0.019). Undergoing supplemental screening in the previous three years was independently associated with younger age (AOR, 1.59; P = 0.004), strong family history of breast cancer (AOR, 3.84; P = 0.027), higher perceived personal risk for breast cancer (AOR, 3.47; P = 0.004), and increased concern about radiation associated with screening examinations (AOR, 3.31; P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Women with dense breasts who had discussed breast density with a doctor were more likely to report undergoing annual screening mammography, while younger women and women with a strong family history of breast cancer, higher perceived personal risk for breast cancer, or greater concern about radiation were more likely to report recently undergoing supplemental screening.

Not all is lost: Functional recovery in older adults following emergency general surgery

BACKGROUND

Although functional decline and death are common long-term outcomes among older adults following emergency general surgery (EGS), we hypothesized that patients' post-discharge function may wax and wane over time. Periods of fluctuation in function may represent opportunities to intervene to prevent further decline. Our objective was to describe the functional trajectories of older adults following EGS admission.

METHODS

This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of all independent, community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 65) in Ontario with an EGS admission (2006-2016). A multistate model was used to examine patients' functional trajectories over the five years following discharge. Patients were followed as they transitioned back and forth between functional independence, use of chronic home care (in-home assistance for personal care, homemaking, or medical care for at least 90 days), nursing home admission, and death.

RESULTS

We identified 78,820 older adults with an EGS admission (mean age 77, 53% female). In the 5 years following admission, 32% (n = 24,928) required new chronic home care, 21% (n = 5,249) of whom had two or more episodes of chronic home care separated by periods of independence. The average time spent in chronic home care was 11 months, and 50% (n = 12,679) of chronic home care episodes ended with a return to independence. For patients requiring chronic home care at any time, the probability of returning to independent living over the subsequent five years ranged from 36-43% annually.

CONCLUSIONS

Not all is lost for older adults who experience functional decline following EGS admission. Half of those who require chronic home care will recover to independence, and one-third will have a durable recovery, remaining independent after five years. Fluctuations in function in the years following EGS may represent a unique opportunity for interventions to promote rehabilitation and recovery among older adults.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, epidemiological.

Impact of the model of long-term follow-up care on adherence to guideline-recommended surveillance among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers

PURPOSE

Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors require lifelong healthcare to address the late effects of therapy. We examined the impact of different provider models of long-term follow-up (LTFU) care on adherence to recommended surveillance.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative health databases in Ontario, Canada. Five-year survivors were identified from IMPACT, a database of patients aged 15-20.9 years at diagnosis of six cancers between 1992 and 2010. We defined three models of LTFU care hierarchically: specialized survivor clinics (SCCs), general cancer clinics (GCCs), and family physician (FP). We assessed adherence to the Children's Oncology Group surveillance guidelines for cardiomyopathy and breast cancer. Multistate models assessed adherence transitions and impacts of LTFU attendance.

RESULTS

A total of 1574 survivors were followed for a mean of 9.2 years (range 4.3-13.9 years) from index (5-year survival). The highest level of LTFU attended in the first 2-years post-index was a GCC (47%); only 16.7% attended a SCC. By the end of study, 72% no longer attended any of the models of care and only 2% still attended an SCC. Among 188 survivors requiring breast cancer surveillance, 6.9% were adherent to their first required surveillance testing. Attendance at a SCC in the previous year and higher cumulative FP or GCC visits increased the rate of subsequently becoming adherent. Among 857 survivors requiring cardiomyopathy surveillance, 11% were adherent at study entry. Each subsequent SCC visit led to an 11.3% (95% CI: 1.05-1.18) increase in the rate of becoming adherent.

CONCLUSION

LTFU attendance and surveillance adherence are sub-optimal. SCC follow-up is associated with greater adherence, but few survivors receive such care, and this proportion diminished over time. Interventions are needed to improve LTFU attendance and promote surveillance adherence.

Influence of chronic comorbidities on periodic colorectal cancer screening participation: A population-based cohort study

Guidelines recommend regular screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). We examined the effects of chronic comorbidities on periodic CRC testing. Using linked healthcare databases from Ontario, Canada, we assembled a population-based cohort of 50-74-year olds overdue for guideline-recommended CRC screening between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2016. We implemented multivariable recurrent events models to determine the association between comorbidities and the rate of becoming up-to-date with periodic CRC tests. The cohort included 4,642,422 individuals. CRC testing rates were significantly lower in persons with renal disease on dialysis (hazard ratio, HR 0.66, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.63 to 0.68), heart failure (HR 0.75, CI 0.75 to 0.76), respiratory disease (HR 0.84, CI 0.83 to 0.84), cardiovascular disease (HR 0.85, CI 0.84 to 0.85), diabetes (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.87) and mental illness (HR 0.88, CI 0.87 to 0.88). There was an inverse association between the number of medical conditions and the rate of CRC testing (5 vs. none: HR 0.30, CI 0.25 to 0.36; 4 vs. none: HR 0.48, CI 0.47 to 0.50; 3 vs. none: HR 0.59, CI 0.58 to 0.60; 2 vs. none: HR 0.72, CI 0.71 to 0.72; 1 vs. none: HR 0.85, CI 0.84 to 0.85). Having both medical and mental comorbidities was associated with lower testing rates than either type of comorbidity alone (HR 0.72, CI 0.71 to 0.72). In summary, chronic comorbidities present a barrier to periodic guideline-recommended CRC testing. Exploration of cancer prevention gaps in these populations is warranted.

Is cancer prevention influenced by the built environment? A multidisciplinary scoping review

The built environment is a significant determinant of human health. Globally, the growing prevalence of preventable cancers suggests a need to understand how features of the built environment shape exposure to cancer development and distribution within a population. This scoping review examines how researchers across disparate fields understand and discuss the built environment in primary and secondary cancer prevention. It is focused exclusively on peer-reviewed sources published from research conducted in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States from 1990 to 2017. The review captured 9958 potential results in the academic literature, and this body of results was scoped to 268 relevant peer-reviewed journal articles indexed across 13 subject databases. Spatial proximity, transportation, land use, and housing are well-understood features of the built environment that shape cancer risk. Built-environment features predominantly influence air quality, substance use, diet, physical activity, and screening adherence, with impacts on breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and overall cancer risk. The majority of the evidence fails to provide direct recommendations for advancing cancer prevention policy and program objectives for municipalities. The expansion of interdisciplinary work in this area would serve to create a significant population health impact.

Immigration and Adherence to Cervical Cancer Screening: A Provincewide Longitudinal Matched Cohort Study Using Multistate Transitional Models

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies highlighting inequities in cancer screening between immigrants and non-immigrants have been methodologically limited. This longitudinal matched cohort study used a multistate modelling framework to examine associations between immigration status and cervical cancer screening adherence.

METHODS

A 1:1 matched cohort of women aged 25 and older from 1992-2014 who were residing in Ontario was examined. For each woman, the proportion of time spent being non-adherent was determined. Disparities in cervical screening adherence, and specifically the association between immigration status and the rate of becoming adherent, were investigated with a three-state transitional model. The model was adjusted for individual- and physician-level characteristics, which were updated annually and incorporated as time-varying covariates.

RESULTS

The matched cohort consisted of 1 156 720 immigrant and non-immigrant women. The median proportion of time spent non-adherent was 38.9% for immigrants and 24.7% for non-immigrants. The rate of becoming adherent among immigrants was lower than that among non-immigrants, after accounting for individual- and physician-level characteristics (relative rate 0.933; 95% CI 0.928-0.937). Other characteristics such as socioeconomic status, immigrant region of origin, presence of primary physician, and physician's sex were found to be significantly associated with cervical screening adherence.

CONCLUSION

This study assessed the association between immigration status and adherence to cervical cancer screening. The insights from this work can be used to target groups of women vulnerable to underscreening and to minimize their time spent non-adherent to cancer screening. The methodology serves as a useful framework for examining adherence to other types of cancer screening.

Higher risk of gastric cancer among immigrants to Ontario: a population-based matched cohort study with over 2 million individuals

BACKGROUND

The risk of gastric carcinoma (GC) varies around the world and between females and males. We aimed to compare the risk of GC among immigrants to Ontario, Canada, to the risk of GC in its general population.

METHODS

This was a retrospective population-based matched cohort study from 1991 to 2014. We identified immigrants who were first eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan at age 40 years or older, and matched 5 controls by year of birth and sex. We calculated crude rates and relative rates of GC stratified by sex. We modeled GC hazard using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, where a time-varying coefficient was incorporated to examine changes in the association of immigrant status with GC hazard over time.

RESULTS

Among females, 415 GC cases were identified among 209,843 immigrants and 1872 among 1,049,215 controls. Among males, 596 GC cases were identified among 191,792 immigrants and 2998 among 958,960 controls. Comparing immigrants from East Asia and Pacific with the controls, the crude relative rate of GC was 1.54 for females and 1.32 for males. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for GC among female immigrants was 1.29 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.48] within 10 years and 1.19 (1.01, 1.40) beyond 10 years; for males, the HR was 1.17 (1.04, 1.31) within 10 years and 1.00 (0.87, 1.15) beyond 10 years.

CONCLUSION

The risk of GC among immigrants is elevated. Although high-risk immigrant populations in Ontario have been identified, further knowledge is required before a program of GC prevention that is targeted to them can be planned.