Disparities in time to prostate cancer treatment initiation before and after the Affordable Care Act Journal Article


Authors: Janopaul-Naylor, J. R.; Corriher, T. J.; Switchenko, J.; Hanasoge, S.; Esdaille, A.; Mahal, B. A.; Filson, C. P.; Patel, S. A.
Article Title: Disparities in time to prostate cancer treatment initiation before and after the Affordable Care Act
Abstract: Background: Delayed access to care may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer (PCa). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed at increasing access and reducing healthcare disparities, but its impact on timely treatment initiation for PCa men is unknown. Methods: Men with intermediate- and high-risk PCa diagnosed 2010–2016 and treated with curative surgery or radiotherapy were identified in the National Cancer Database. Multivariable logistic regression modeled the effect of race and insurance type on treatment delay >180 days after diagnosis. Cochran–Armitage test measured annual trends in delays, and joinpoint regression assessed if 2014, the year the ACA became fully operationalized, was significant for inflection in crude rates of major delays. Results: Of 422,506 eligible men, 18,720 (4.4%) experienced >180-day delay in treatment initiation. Compared to White patients, Black (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.72–1.87, p < 0.001) and Hispanic (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.28–1.48, p < 0.001) patients had higher odds of delay. Compared to uninsured, those with Medicaid had no difference in odds of delay (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.84–1.06, p = 0.31), while those with private insurance (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.52–0.63, p < 0.001) or Medicare (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58–0.70, p < 0.001) had lower odds of delay. Mean time to treatment significantly increased from 2010 to 2016 across all racial/ethnic groups (trend p < 0.001); 2014 was associated with a significant inflection for increase in rates of major delays. Conclusions: Non-White and Medicaid-insured men with localized PCa are at risk of treatment delays in the United States. Treatment delays have been consistently rising, particularly after implementation of the ACA. © 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Keywords: prostate cancer; disparities; treatment delay; aca; obamacare
Journal Title: Cancer Medicine
Volume: 12
Issue: 17
ISSN: 2045-7634
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2023-09-01
Start Page: 18258
End Page: 18268
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6419
PUBMED: 37537835
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10523962
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors