Insurance status as a modifier of the association between race and stage of prostate cancer diagnosis in Florida during 1995 and 2013.

Background: Cancer stage at diagnosis is a critical prognostic factor regarding a patient's health outcomes. It has yet to be shown whether insurance status across different race has any implications on the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate whether insurance status was a modifier of the association between race and stage of previously undetected prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis in Florida between 1995 and 2013.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey using information from the Florida Cancer Data System (n = 224,819). Study participants included black and white males diagnosed with prostate cancer in Florida between 1995 and 2013. The main outcome variable was stage of prostate cancer at diagnosis. The main independent variable was race (black vs white). Adjusted logistic regression models were used to explore the association between race, insurance status and stage at diagnosis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.

Results: Black males were more likely to be diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.27-1.35). Being uninsured (OR 2.28; 95% CI 2.13-2.45) or having Medicaid (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.70-1.98) was associated with a diagnosis of late stage cancer. Stratified analysis for health insurance revealed that blacks had an increased risk for late stage cancer if uninsured (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.07-1.55) and if having Medicare (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.31-1.48).

Conclusion: Insurance status may modify the effect of race on late stage prostate cancer in black patients.