Racial Differences Seen in Financial Hardship Among Older Cancer Survivors

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, July 1, 2024 -- Income and area-level disadvantage are the largest contributors to racial differences in financial hardship among older U.S. adults with cancer, according to a study published online June 18 in Cancer.

Elizabeth S. Davis, M.S.P.H., from Boston University, and colleagues conducted a survey to assess financial hardship among older adults diagnosed with cancer. Responses were received from 721 White (84 percent) or Black (16 percent) patients (≥65 years) who were diagnosed with breast (34 percent), prostate (27 percent), lung (17 percent), or colorectal (14 percent) cancer or lymphoma (9 percent) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham between 2000 and 2019.

The researchers found that Black patients reported lower income (65 versus 34 percent earning <$50,000) and greater scores on the Area Deprivation Index. Compared to White patients, Black patients reported significantly higher rates of overall (39 versus 18 percent), material (29 versus 11 percent), and psychological (27 versus 11 percent) hardship. These characteristics explained roughly half (51 percent) of racial differences in financial hardship among cancer survivors, driven by differences in income (23 percent) and area deprivation (11 percent).

"Future studies should consider not only socioeconomic variables like income but also a combination of race and the regional context of where a patient lives to better understand the downstream effects of structural racism on cancer survivors," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-07-02 07:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords