ACS research finds lack of health insurance coverage contributes to racial and ethnic disparities in advanced-stage diagnosis of multiple cancers
A new, large study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers found that lack of health insurance coverage accounts for a significant proportion of racial and ethnic disparities in advanced-stage diagnosis of multiple cancers.
The findings are published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 1.9 million cancer patients, 18-64 years of age, and diagnosed with one of 10 major cancers between 2013-2019 from the nationwide comprehensive hospital-based National Cancer Database (NCDB). The 10 cancers, which can be detected early through screening, physical examination, or clinical symptoms, included cancers of the breast (female), prostate, colorectum, lung, cervix, head and neck, stomach, urinary bladder, uterus, and skin melanoma.
The study analyses showed evidence of mediation of non-Hispanic Black vs. White disparities in eight cancers (range of proportions mediated: 4.5%-29.1%); Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic White disparities in six cancers (13.2%-68.8%); non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander vs. White disparities in three cancers (5.8%-11.3%). Health insurance accounted for a significant proportion of the racial and ethnic disparities in stage III-IV diagnoses across a wide range of cancers.
