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

Financial toxicity in patients with glioblastoma

PURPOSE

There has been mounting interest in understanding the impact of financial toxicity (FT) in various cancer types; however, it remains poorly understood and understudied within neuro-oncology-especially as it relates to neurosurgical components of patient care.

METHODS

Retrospective, single-center study of patients who underwent craniotomy for resection of glioblastoma from 2020 to 2022. OIBEE™ (Austin, Texas) software was queried to identify the subset of these patients who had a bad debt charged to their account. These patients were deemed to qualify as experiencing FT. Chi Square analysis was conducted between FT and non-FT patient groups. Additionally, survival analyses were performed to determine predictors of progression free and overall survival.

RESULTS

74 patients were included in this sample. 33/74 (44%) met criteria for FT. The average bad debt amount was $7,476.76 and the median debt amount was $2,015.96, with the average time to financial toxicity after surgery being approximately 127 days. FT patients were significantly younger at diagnosis than those who were not FT (64.6 years- non-FT vs. 59.0 years- FT, p = 0.0344). FT patients were more likely to have undergone subtotal resections rather than a gross total resection compared to non-FT patients (FT GTR 27.3%, non-FT GTR 52.4%, p = 0.028). Hospital length of stay was significantly longer for FT patients compared to non-FT patients (LOS FT 9.5 days, non-FT 6.5 days, p = 0.0312).

CONCLUSION

Glioblastoma patients are at high risk of experiencing FT with our series showing no significant impact on overall survival. Larger studies are needed to understand the impact of FT on patient outcomes.

Explore Potential Profiles and Influencing Factors for Financial Toxicity in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

To explore the potential financial toxicity (FT) profiles in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing chemotherapy and analyze its influencing factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 373 CRC patients undergoing chemotherapy in southwest China from January 2024 to May 2024. We utilized the General Information Questionnaire, the FT based on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (COST-PROM), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and the Family APGAR Index (APGAR). Latent profile analysis (LPA) by Mplus8.3 was used to identify the latent profiles of the FT. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relevant factors in the different categories.

RESULTS

The patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy were divided into four profiles: high FT group (44.5%), moderate FT-low psychological adaptation group (22.8%), moderate FT-high psychological adaptation group (18.0%), and low FT group (14.7%). Age, average monthly household income per capita, employment status, disease duration, round of chemotherapy, illness perception, and family function were the influencing factors for potential profiles of FT in CRC chemotherapy patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There are four potential profiles of FT in patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy. Healthcare providers should pay attention to patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy aged 18 to 59 years old, employed and unemployed, with lower average monthly household income per capita, disease duration of less than 1 year, and more times of chemotherapy. Additionally, reducing patients' negative perceptions of the disease and improving family function can help lower the level of FT.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research can assist nurses in identifying patients at high risk of FT, enabling early intervention and the implementation of targeted psychological nursing interventions. Nurses can help patients develop positive perceptions of the disease and improve family relationships, thereby mitigating the negative effects of FT.

Relationship functioning and impact of health coverage models for parents of childhood cancer patients: A systematic review

The current systematic literature review aimed to summarize and evaluate existing literature regarding parental relationship functioning during and after childhood cancer, with an exploratory evaluation regarding the impact of national health coverage model (proxy for finances). This review used MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Embase, and CENTRAL search database. Articles were reviewed (N = 3060) against inclusion criteria, with 512 abstracts screened and 87 full-text retrieved and reviewed. Inclusion criteria: (1) childhood cancer, (2) measures parental relationship functioning, (3) English, and (4) new, empirical data. A modified version of the Downs and Black checklist was used to assess risk of bias. Narrative synthesis was used to present and discuss results. Final included articles (N = 36) revealed mostly positive or neutral findings across parental relationship functioning subdomains within 6 months (T1) and after 6 months (T2) of childhood cancer diagnosis. Sexual intimacy was negatively impacted across timepoints. Parental stress was higher than norms at T1. Marital conflict and adjustment were also worse at T1 but returned to previous levels at T2. Some variability in parental relationship functioning was observed among the different health coverage models, but these differences were not significant. Results support systematic screening and systems-based parent support programs for families of children with cancer. Mixed-methods studies examining parental relationships longitudinally and utilizing operational definitions for out-of-pocket spending are needed.

Financial Toxicity and Willingness-to-Pay for Cancer Treatment Among People With Multiple Myeloma

PURPOSE

This study used willingness-to-pay (WTP) exercises to explore the relationships between race, financial toxicity, and treatment decision making among people with cancer.

METHODS

A convenience sample of people with multiple myeloma who attended an academic medical center in 2022 was surveyed. Financial toxicity was assessed by the Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity, with scores <26 indicating financial toxicity. WTP was assessed with (1) a discrete choice experiment (DCE), (2) fixed-choice tasks, and (3) a bidding game.

RESULTS

In total, 156 people were approached, and 130 completed the survey. The majority of the sample was White (n = 99), whereas 24% (n = 31) was African American or Black. Forty-six percent (n = 60) of the sample were experiencing financial toxicity. In the DCE, the relative importance of cost was twice as high for those with financial toxicity (30% compared with 14%; P < .001). In the fixed-choice tasks, they were twice as likely to accept a treatment with shorter progression-free survival but lower costs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.47; P = .049). In the bidding game, the median monthly WTP of those with financial toxicity was half that of those without ($100 in US dollars [USD] compared with $200 USD; P < .001). Only in the bidding game was race statistically associated with WTP; after controlling for financial toxicity, African American or Black participants were three times as likely (aOR, 3.06; P = .007) to report a lower WTP.

CONCLUSION

Across all three exercises, participants with financial toxicity reported lower WTP than those without. As financial toxicity disproportionally affects some segments of patients, it is possible that financial toxicity contributes to cancer disparities.

Financial toxicity in early-onset colorectal cancer: A National Health Interview Survey study

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.

Societal Perspectives and Real-World Cost-Effectiveness: Expanding the Scope of Health Economics Inquiry

Economic evaluations of health technologies for cancer are frequently seen in the literature, but not all economic perspectives have the same frequency [...].