Purpose: While previous research has highlighted treatment delay inequities in early-stage breast cancer and identified potential contributing factors, there is limited research on disparities in treatment delays for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study investigates these disparities in MBC treatment initiation, aiming to identify key factors crucial for improving timely access to care.
Method: Nationwide Flatiron Health electronic health records-derived deidentified database, including females aged 18+ diagnosed with either De novo or relapsed MBC in the U.S. between 2011 and 2022. Treatment delay, defined as > 60 days between diagnosis and first-line treatment, was assessed as a binary variable. T-tests and chi-squared tests analyzed patient characteristics (age, race, insurance, diagnosis stage, metastasis site, phenotypes, etc.) among delayed and non-delayed groups. Logistic regression evaluated the association between clinical and non-clinical factors and treatment delays.
Results: Among 20,617 patients with MBC, nearly 27% experienced treatment delays. These patients were generally younger, uninsured, historically marginalized, and newly diagnosed. Risk ratio analysis showed patients with only Medicare without secondary coverage (RR: 2.34, 95% CI [1.06, 5.16]) and uninsured (RR: 2.18, 95% CI [1.01, 4.76]) had higher risk of delays compared to those with commercial insurance. Historically marginalized patients had higher delay risk, ranging from 6% for Black patients to 12% for patients with not documented race/ethnicity background (p = 0.03) compared to White patients."
Conclusion: Our study highlights significant disparities in MBC treatment delays. Patients from historically marginalized groups and those without health insurance coverage or with only Medicare coverage are highly likely to experience delays. Addressing these disparities is essential for equitable healthcare and improved outcomes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10549-024-07593-3 | DOI Listing |
Eur J Surg Oncol
December 2024
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain; Academic Department of Surgery, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Background: There is currently no consensus on the role, method or frequency of surveillance following curative treatment of oesophageal cancer; re-investigation largely relying on symptom triggers which may delay detection of recurrence and impact survival. We hypothesised that intensive surveillance with endoscopy and imaging was more likely to detect recurrent or new cancer at a curable stage and this study examined the outcomes of this surveillance policy.
Patients And Methods: A prospective database of curatively treated oesophageal carcinoma patients was interrogated for patients with new or recurrent disease detected on surveillance and amenable to salvage surgery.
Macromol Biosci
January 2025
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), School of Chemical Engineering (FEQ), Albert Einstein Avenue, 500, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-852, Brazil.
Annually, thousands of individuals suffer from skin injuries resulting from trauma, surgeries, or diabetes. Inadequate wound treatment can delay healing and increase the risk of severe infections. In this context, a promising synthetic polymer with potent antimicrobial properties, Poly{2-[(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride} (PMETAC), is synthesized and crosslinked with N,N'-Methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS) in the presence of Chitosan (CH), a natural, biocompatible polysaccharide that promotes cell regeneration and provides additional beneficial properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOtolaryngol Head Neck Surg
January 2025
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Objective: To evaluate factors impacting access to and timing of surgery in patients with submucous cleft palate (SMCP) and velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD).
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Single academic medical center.
Front Genet
December 2024
Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Background: Autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1B (ARCL1B) is an extremely rare disease characterized by severe systemic connective tissue abnormalities, including cutis laxa, aneurysm and fragility of blood vessels, birth fractures and emphysema. The severity of this disease ranges from perinatal death to manifestations compatible with survival. To date, no cases have been reported in the Chinese population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Internal Medicine, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, IND.
Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is a life-threatening complication of sepsis characterized by myocardial dysfunction. SICM significantly increases mortality rates in sepsis. Despite its clinical relevance, SICM lacks a unified definition and standardized diagnostic criteria, complicating early identification and treatment.
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