Breast cancer screening disparities between women with and without disabilities: A national database study in South Korea

Trends in uptake of cancer screening among people with severe mental illness before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A repeated cross-sectional study

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate trends in cancer screening participation among people with severe mental illness (PSMI) from periods before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

In this repeated cross-sectional study, we used anonymized datasets on municipal cancer screening participation among PSMI in Okayama City. The data covered fiscal year (FY) 2018 to FY2022; we used the municipal cancer screening database and Medical Payment for Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities. PSMI were defined as those with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders (F20-29) or bipolar disorder (F30 or F31), identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes. The analysis included men and women aged 40-69 years for colorectal and lung cancer screening; men and women aged 50-69 years for gastric cancer screening; women aged 40-69 years for breast cancer screening; and women aged 20-69 years for cervical cancer screening. Municipal cancer screening rates among PSMI were calculated for each FY.

Results

For all cancer types, cancer screening rates for PSMI in FY2020 (colorectal: 9.0%; lung: 11.6%; gastric: 4.9%; breast: 6.2%; and cervical: 6.1%) were lower than the rates in FY2019 (11.5%, 14.0%, 6.5%, 9.3%, and 8.3%, respectively). In FY2022, the rates (9.9%, 12.9%; 5.3%; 8.0%, and 6.9%, respectively) recovered, but remained low.

Conclusion

This study showed that cancer screening rates among PSMI were very low, both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to encourage participation in cancer screening in this population are urgently needed.

Population-based cancer screening access needs of disabled people: A qualitative evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality among disabled people, and population-based screening is an effective method to identify some cancers early; however, its uptake is lower among the disabled population. There is a lack of evidence regarding why they access less, and their need to access population-based screening programmes.

AIM

To synthesise evidence of the experience of accessing population-based screening programmes for disabled people.

METHOD

A qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) was carried out by searching electronic databases including Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. Grey literature was also searched for. The search yielded 32 relevant publications.

RESULTS

The findings are based on Levesque's conceptual framework. Several factors affect the accessibility of screening services, including people's perceptions, family support, affordability, literacy, and accessibility.

CONCLUSION

Screening services need to acknowledge the needs of disabled people and integrate reasonable accommodations to facilitate their needs.

Disparities in Health Screening Completion Status for Adults with Severe Disabilities Compared to Adults With No Disabilities in Korea: A Retrospective Study of Electronic Health Records

Health screening is crucial for individuals with disabilities because they are likely to experience preventable health challenges, leading to poor health outcomes. However, there is limited insight into barriers to health screening for them after arriving at a healthcare facility. Thus, this study aimed to explore the association between disability status/type and health screening test completion and the reasons for incomplete tests after arriving at a healthcare facility. We reviewed 767 electronic health records of individuals who underwent health screening in a healthcare facility over one year. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to explore differences in test completion. Levesque's access to care framework was used to categorize the reasons for incomplete tests into provider- and patient-related domains. The findings showed associations between disability status and health screening completion. Both provider- and patient-related barriers were recorded as the reasons for incomplete tests for cases with disabilities. The associations found suggest potential disparities individuals with disabilities experience upon arrival at healthcare facilities. Further prospective studies are needed to test and validate the healthcare utilization disparities in disability.

The effect of the expansion of the Personal Assistance Service Program on the uptake of the National Health Screening in people with severe disability

BACKGROUND

Korea operates the Personal Assistance Service (PAS) program, a social service program that assists with the daily activities and coping needs of individuals with disabilities. In January 2013, the eligibility to enroll in the PAS program was expanded to include all individuals with severe disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

As supporting individuals with disabilities is important in reducing disparities related to the uptake of health screening, this study investigated whether eligibility expansion of the PAS program was associated with increased participation in the National Health Screening Program (NHSP) among adults with severe disabilities.

METHODS

Nationwide data from Korea that included 24 701 individuals were used. The treatment group included individuals with severe disabilities, while the control group included those with mild disabilities. The difference-in-difference approach was used to estimate differences in participation in the NHSP between the two groups before and after the intervention period. A negative binomial distribution model was applied in the analysis with adjustment for all independent variables.

RESULTS

The expansion of the PAS program was directly related to an increase in NHSP uptake by people with severe disabilities (increase by 0.044 times compared to the control group following the implementation of the policy).

CONCLUSIONS

Expanding the eligibility for the PAS program was associated with an increase in NHSP participation among individuals with severe disabilities. These findings suggest the importance of supporting individuals with disabilities by increasing participation in health screenings to reduce potential related health disparities.

Protocol for a qualiquantitative study of accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services among women with motor disabilities in Morocco

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability, underlining the need for equitable health care for this group is important. Inclusive health systems are consistent with global health priorities, respond to United Nations sustainable development goals and economically viable. Despite advancements in Morocco's health system and legal framework, significant disparities remains inaccessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for women with disabilities. This study explores barriers and facilitators affecting access to SRH services for these women, aiming to provide recommendations for more inclusive services and improved health outcomes.

METHODS

Using a mixed approach, this study assessSRH access for women with motor disabilities in two cities in Morocco, selected for their socio-demographic, cultural and and healthcare diversity. Quantitative data will be generated through questionnaires administrered to 400 participants, while qualitative information will come from 20 to 30 interviews. Recruitment involves working with health professionals, NGOs and social media campaigns to ensure a diverse sample. Data analysis includes NVivo for qualitative data and descriptive/inferential statistics for quantitative data.

CONCLUSION

The study aims to explore the perspectives of women with disabilities and health professionals regarding SRH services. It will provide recommendations for making SRH services more equitable and inclusive, ultimately improving health out comes and uphold health rights for women with disabilities.

Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Uptake in Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study reports on uptake rates of cervical cancer prevention and screening in a clinically-referred cohort of adolescent and adult females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Females with ASD (11-65 years) were invited to participate in an online survey to report on uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening. Participants also provided demographic and clinical information. Chi-square statistical analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between categorical variables and receipt of cervical cancer prevention and screening. Forty-one out of 73 (56%) of adolescent (11-17 years) and 51/108 (47%) of adult (≥ 18 years) females with ASD reported having received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Only 30/73 (41%) and 37/108 (34%) of adolescents and adults respectively, were fully vaccinated (≥ 2 doses). Language impairment was the only clinical factor found to be associated with non-receipt of the HPV vaccine. Thirty-one out of 82 (38%) adult females (≥ 21 years) with ASD had received at least one pap smear. Language impairment, intellectual disability, non-independent living, and lower level of education were all associated with not receiving a pap smear. Females with ASD are vulnerable to invasive cervical cancer disease due to low uptake rates of the HPV vaccine and routine pap smear screening.

A Systematic Review to Evaluate the Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening in Women with Disability

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. There are observed disparities in patients with disability as compared to those without disability, which leads to poor BC screening attendance, thereby worsening disease management. Aim: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate if there are disparities in screening rates in women with disability as compared to those without disability, as well as the different factors that pose barriers to patients with disability for enrolment in BC screening programs. Method: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically reviewed published articles between 2008 and 2023, which assessed different factors that contributed to poor attendance in BC screening programs held across different countries. Detailed study characteristics were obtained, and methodological quality assessment was performed on the individual studies included in this review. Result: A total of fifty-three articles were identified as eligible studies based on the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. These included 7,252,913 patients diagnosed with BC (913,902 patients with disability/6,339,011 patients without disability). The results revealed there are demographic, clinical, financial, and service-related barriers that contributed to lower screening rates in disabled patients as compared to non-disabled. Patient age is the most common factor, with the highest effect observed for 80 years (vs. 30-44 years) [odds ratio (OR) = 13.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.27-23.47), p < 0.0001], followed by race/ethnicity for Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic white) [OR = 9.5 (95%CI = 1.0-91.9), p < 0.05]. Additionally, patients with multiple disabilities had the highest rate of dropouts [OR = 27.4 (95%CI = 21.5-33.3)]. Other factors like education, income, marital status, and insurance coverage were essential barriers in screening programs. Conclusions: This study presents a holistic view of all barriers to poor BC screening attendance in disabled patients, thereby exacerbating health inequalities. A standardized approach to overcome the identified barriers and the need for a tailored guideline, especially for disability groups, is inevitable.

Risk of Parkinson disease in stroke patients: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous studies have examined the risk of stroke in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), but the incidence of PD onset among stroke patients and its risk according to severity of poststroke disabilities have scarcely been investigated. This study aims to determine whether the risk of PD is increased among stroke patients using a retrospective cohort with a large population-based database.

METHODS

We used data collected by the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2010 to 2018 and examined 307,361 stroke patients and 380,917 sex- and age-matched individuals without stroke to uncover the incidence of PD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and the risk of PD was compared according to presence and severity of disability.

RESULTS

During 4.31 years of follow-up, stroke patients had a 1.67 times higher risk of PD compared to individuals without stroke (adjusted HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.57-1.78). The risk of PD was greater among stroke patients with disabilities than among those without disabilities, even after adjustment for multiple covariates (adjusted HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.55-1.91; and adjusted HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.56-1.77, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated an increased risk of PD among stroke patients. Health professionals need to pay careful attention to detecting movement disorders as clues for diagnosing PD.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Care for Individuals with Disabilities

This article explores the inequities experienced by individuals with disabilities when accessing obstetric and gynecologic care. The unique needs, abilities, and barriers to care are reviewed, as well as recommendations for provision of care to people with disabilities.

Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Adults With and Without Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

BACKGROUND

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities may face barriers in accessing healthcare, including cancer screening and detection services. We sought to assess the association of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with breast cancer screening rates.

METHODS

Data from 2018 to 2020 was used to identify screening-eligible individuals from Medicare Standard Analytic Files. Adults aged 65-79 years who did not have a previous diagnosis of breast cancer were included. Multivariable regression was used to analyze the differences in breast cancer screening rates among individuals with and without IDD.

RESULTS

Among 9,383,349 Medicare beneficiaries, 11,265 (0.1%) individuals met the criteria for IDD. Of note, individuals with IDD were more likely to be non-Hispanic White (90.5% vs. 87.3%), have a Charlson Comorbidity Index score ≤ 2 (66.2% vs. 85.5%), and reside in a low social vulnerability index neighborhood (35.7% vs. 34.4%). IDD was associated with reduced odds of undergoing breast cancer screening (odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.80; p < 0.001). Breast cancer screening rates in individuals with IDD were further influenced by social vulnerability and belonging to a racial/ethnic minority.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with IDD may face additional barriers to breast cancer screening. The combination of IDD and social vulnerability placed patients at particularly high risk of not being screened for breast cancer.

Impact of health disparities on national breast cancer screening participation rates in South Korea

Socioeconomic barriers to cancer screening exist at a regional level. The deprivation index is used to estimate socioeconomic gradients and health disparities across different geographical regions. We aimed to examine the impact of deprivation on breast cancer screening participation rates among South Korean women. Municipal breast cancer screening participation rates in women were extracted from the National Cancer Screening Information System and linked to the Korean version of the deprivation index constructed by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. A generalised linear mixed model was employed to investigate the association between the deprivation index and age-standardised breast cancer screening participation rates in 2005, 2012, and 2018. Participation rates increased gradually across all age groups from 2005 to 2018. Participants in their 60 s consistently had one of the highest participation rates (2005: 30.37%, 2012: 61.57%, 2018: 65.88%). In 2005, the most deprived quintile had a higher estimate of breast cancer screening participation than the least deprived quintile (2nd quintile; estimate: 1.044, p = 0.242, 3rd quintile; estimate: 1.153, p = 0.192, 4th quintile; estimate: 3.517, p = 0.001, 5th quintile; estimate: 6.913, p =  < 0.0001). In 2012, the participation rate also increased as the level of deprivation increased. There were no statistically meaningful results in 2018. Regions with high deprivation have a higher participation rate in breast cancer screening. The role of health disparities in determining cancer outcomes among women in Korea requires further examination.

The Korea National Disability Registration System

The Korea National Disability Registration System (KNDRS) was established in 1989 to provide social welfare benefits based on predefined criteria for disability registration and an objective medical assessment using a disability grading system. Disability registration requires (1) a medical examination by a qualified specialist physician and (2) a medical advisory meeting to review the degree of disability. Medical institutions and specialists for the diagnosis of disabilities are legally stipulated, and medical records for a specified period are required to support the diagnosis. The number of disability types has gradually expanded, and 15 disability types have been legally defined. As of 2021, 2.645 million people were registered as disabled, accounting for approximately 5.1% of the total population. Among the 15 disability types, disabilities of the extremities account for the largest proportion (45.1%). Previous studies have investigated the epidemiology of disabilities using data from the KNDRS, combined predominantly with data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Korea has a mandatory public health insurance system that covers the entire Korean population, and the National Health Insurance Services manages all eligibility information, including disability types and severity ratings. In short, the KNDRS-NHIRD is a significant data resource for research on the epidemiology of disabilities.

Family physicians' and trainees' experiences regarding cancer screening with patients with intellectual disability: An interpretive description study

People with intellectual disability receive breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening at lower rates relative to the general population, although the reasons for this disparity are largely unknown. Research, both with the general population and specific to people with intellectual disability, has revealed that a family physician's recommendation for cancer screening or continuity of primary care may increase screening rates. We interviewed family physicians and family medicine trainees regarding their experiences recommending cancer screening to patients with intellectual disability. We concluded that the decision to recommend cancer screening is complex, and includes physicians weighing their clinical judgement as to the best provision of care for patients with a patient's eligibility for screening, while continuing to respect patients' autonomy. This patient-physician interaction occurs within the larger medical environment. Further research with experienced family physicians is warranted to better understand this complex phenomenon.

Associations of reproductive factors with incidence of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

To assess the association between the reproductive factors of age at menarche, age at menopause, and reproductive span and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke (IS).

METHODS

We used a population-based retrospective cohort study from the National Health Insurance Service database of Korea including a total of 1,224,547 postmenopausal women. Associations between age at menarche (≤ 12, 13-14 [reference], 15, 16, and ≥ 17 years), age at menopause (< 40, 40-45, 46-50, 51-54 [reference], and ≥ 55 years), and reproductive span (< 30, 30-33, 34-36, 37-40 [reference], and ≥ 41 years) and the incidence of MI and IS were assessed by Cox proportional hazard models with adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and various reproductive factors.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 8.4 years, 25,181 MI and 38,996 IS cases were identified. Late menarche (≥ 16 years), early menopause (≤ 50 years), and short reproductive span (≤ 36 years) were linearly associated with a 6%, 12-40%, and 12-32% higher risk of MI, respectively. Meanwhile, a U-shaped association between age at menarche and risk of IS was found, with a 16% higher risk in early menarche (≤ 12 years) and a 7-9% higher risk in late menarche (≥ 16 years). Short reproductive span was linearly associated with an increased risk of MI, whereas both shorter and longer reproductive spans were associated with an increased risk of IS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated different patterns of association between age at menarche and incidence of MI and IS: a linear association for MI versus a U-shaped association for IS. Female reproductive factors in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors should be considered when assessing overall cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

Increased Risk of Developing Depression in Disability after Stroke: A Korean Nationwide Study

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and a major cause of disability worldwide. A significant number of stroke survivors suffer from depression, impeding the activities of daily living and rehabilitation. Here, we examined the risk of depression among stroke survivors according to the severity of disabilities and compared its incidence with a matched control group. We included data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service of 207,678 stroke survivors. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the risk of depression among stroke survivors. Stroke survivors had a greater risk of developing depression than the matched control group with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.12 (95% confidence interval 2.09-2.15). Stroke survivors with more severe disabilities were associated with a higher risk of depression than those with mild disabilities. The risk of developing depression was prominently high within the first year after a stroke. Males and younger people (<65 years) were independent risk factors for depression in stroke survivors. This study demonstrated an increased risk of developing depression in stroke survivors compared to control subjects, and a higher risk of depression was associated with a more severe degree of disability. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of depression developing in stroke survivors, especially those with disabilities.

Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among adults with disabilities in Korea

BACKGROUND

Previous research on vaccination among people with disabilities has focused on children or adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

To examine variations in seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) uptake according to disability type and age group and explore the vulnerable groups and risk factors of non-vaccination to identify areas of policy support in Korea.

METHODS

This pooled cross-sectional study included adults who participated in the 2011, 2014, and 2017 National Survey of Persons with Disabilities. The dependent variable was SIV uptake. Age-stratified multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess its relationship with disability characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 18,069 adults with disabilities, the overall SIV uptake rate increased with age (33.8%, 50.1%, and 85.3% in 20-49, 50-65, and ≥65 years, respectively). In the multivariate analyses (reporting the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval), severe disability was associated with lower and higher SIV uptake rates in older adults and younger age-groups (0.88, 0.76-1.01; 1.62, 1.42-1.86; and 1.54, 1.24-1.92 in those aged ≥65; 50-64; and 20-49 years), respectively. Health behaviors (regular doctor visits, general health examinations, and non-smoking) were significantly associated with higher odds of SIV uptake. After adjusting for covariates (age, medical conditions, functional ability, and behavioral factors), individuals with brain, epileptic, and psychiatric disabilities showed lower odds of SIV uptake compared to those with internal organ disabilities across all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Policy initiatives that can improve the health behaviors of people with disabilities (especially the elderly and people with intellectual, brain, epilepsy, and psychiatric disabilities) to promote SIV uptake are needed.

Disability type–specific mortality patterns and life expectancy among disabled people in South Korea using 10-year combined data between 2008 and 2017

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People with any disabilities accounted for a quarter of total deaths.

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People with disabilities had higher average ages and poor economic conditions.

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All disability types presented higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy.

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The major causes of death differed according to the type of disability.

People with disabilities have a higher mortality risk than non-disabled people. However, mortality patterns and life expectancy according to disability types are under-researched. This study investigated the sociodemographic characteristics and compared mortality and life expectancy among people with disabilities according to disability type in Korea using 10-year combined data between 2008 and 2017. The National Health Information Database from the National Health Insurance Service covering the total Korean population between 2008 and 2017 was obtained. This study described the age and income distributions of people with disabilities and calculated the mortality rate, proportional mortality ratio, and life expectancy according to disability type. Most disability subgroups had higher average ages than were found for non-disabled people. The proportion of the bottom 20% household income group was also higher in all types of disabilities than in non-disabled people. The crude mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate, and life expectancy were all worse in people with all types of disabilities than in their non-disabled counterparts, but variations according to disability type were found. The composition of causes of death also varied across disability types. Although all types of disabilities were associated with higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy, the sociodemographic characteristics and mortality and life expectancy patterns differed across types of disability. People with disabilities experienced various health-related problems and financial burdens. Public assistance needs to be strengthened to guarantee adequate income and health care services for people with disabilities, considering their sociodemographic characteristics and mortality patterns.

Prediction Model for Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus Using Korean Public Health Examination Data (2002–2017)

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are major chronic diseases that are important factors in the management of cardiovascular disease. In order to prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases, proper health management through periodic health check-ups is necessary. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus according to the health check-up, and to develop a predictive model for hypertension and diabetes according to the health check-up. We used the National Health Insurance Corporation database of Korea and checked whether hypertension or diabetes occurred from that date according to the number of health check-ups over the past 10 years. Compared to those who underwent five health check-ups, those who participated in the first screening had hypertension (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 2.14–2.22), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.30–1.35) and both diseases (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 2.39–2.53); individuals who underwent 10 screenings had hypertension (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.83–0.88), diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.81–0.85) and both diseases (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.79–0.87). Individuals who attended fewer than five screenings compared with individuals who attended five or more screenings had hypertension (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.59–1.62; AUC = 0.66), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.20–1.22; AUC = 0.59) and both diseases (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.72–1.78, AUC = 0.63). The machine learning-based prediction model using XGBoost showed higher performance in all datasets than the conventional logistic regression model in predicting hypertension (accuracy, 0.828 vs. 0.628; F1-score, 0.800 vs. 0.633; AUC, 828 vs. 0.630), diabetes mellitus (accuracy, 0.707 vs. 0.575; F1-score, 0.663 vs. 0.576; AUC, 0.710 vs. 0.575) and both diseases (accuracy, 0.950 vs. 0.612; F1-score, 0.950 vs. 0.614; AUC, 0.952 vs. 0.612). It was found that health check-up had a great influence on the occurrence of hypertension and diabetes, and screening frequency was more important than other factors in the variable importances.

Disability and Participation in Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

It is well established that access to preventative care, such as breast or cervical cancer screening, can reduce morbidity and mortality. Certain groups may be missed out of these healthcare services, such as women with disabilities, as they face many access barriers due to underlying inequalities and negative attitudes. However, the data have not been reviewed on whether women with disabilities face inequalities in the uptake of these services. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to compare the uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening in women with and without disabilities. A search was conducted in July 2021 across four databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Global Health, and CINAHL. Quantitative studies comparing the uptake of breast or cervical cancer screening between women with and without disabilities were eligible. Twenty-nine studies were included, all from high-income settings. One third of the 29 studies (34.5%, n = 10) were deemed to have a high risk of bias, and the remainder a low risk of bias. The pooled estimates showed that women with disabilities have 0.78 (95% CI: 0.72–0.84) lower odds of attending breast cancer screening and have 0.63 (95% CI: 0.45–0.88) lower odds of attending cervical cancer screening, compared to women without disabilities. In conclusion, women with disabilities face disparities in receipt of preventative cancer care. There is consequently an urgent need to evaluate and improve the inclusivity of cancer screening programs and thereby prevent avoidable morbidity and mortality.

Association between Cholesterol Level and the Risk of Hematologic Malignancy According to Menopausal Status: A Korean Nationwide Cohort Study

Recent studies have revealed the possible association between serum cholesterol levels and hematologic malignancy (HM). However, limited information is available about how reproductive factors interact with this association. Therefore, we investigated the roles of serum cholesterol in the risk of HM according to the menopausal status. We finally identified 1,189,806 premenopausal and 1,621,604 postmenopausal women who underwent a national health screening program in 2009 using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Overall, 5449 (0.19%) developed HM. Among postmenopausal women, the inverse associations were observed between total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and the risk of overall HM. In premenopausal women, the highest quartile of HDL-C was associated with a reduced risk of HM compared with the lowest quartile of HDL-C consistent with results in postmenopausal women (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.68–0.95]), whereas the highest quartile of triglyceride (TG) showed an increased risk of HM compared to the lowest quartile of TG, (aHR 1.22, 95% CI [1.02,1.44]) only in premenopausal women. Our finding suggests that lipid profiles are differently associated with HM risk by menopausal status.

Inequality in the Utilization of Breast Cancer Screening between Women with and without Disabilities in Taiwan: A Propensity-Score-Matched Nationwide Cohort Study

Because of the difficulties in accessing medical care, the likelihood of receiving breast cancer screening may be low for women with disabilities. We aimed to investigate differences in the utilization of breast cancer screening among women with and without disabilities. Participants included women with and without disabilities from 2004 to 2010, and it was observed whether the participants had received a breast cancer screening during 2011 and 2012. Propensity-score matching was employed to match disabled women with non-disabled women (1:1). Data sources included the National Health Insurance Research Database, the Cancer Screening Database, and the Disability Registration File. Conditional logistic regression was performed to examine the odds ratios (ORs) that both groups would undergo breast cancer screening. The proportion of women with disabilities who received breast cancer screening was 18.33%, which was significantly lower than that of women without disabilities (25.52%) (p < 0.001). Women with dementia had the lowest probability of receiving a mammography examination (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.28−0.43), followed by those with multiple disabilities (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.40−0.47) and intellectual disabilities (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.41−0.50). In conclusion, compared to women without disabilities, those with disabilities were less likely to undergo breast cancer screening.

Determinants of Non-Participation in Population-Based Breast Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Breast cancer (BC) screening can be performed in a screening program (BCSP) or in opportunistic screening. The existing reviews on the determinants of non-participation depend on self-reported data which may be biased. Furthermore, no distinction was made between the probably different determinants of both screening strategies.

Objective

To find the determinants of non-participation in BCSP by means of a meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for observational studies which quantified factors associated with non-participation in BCSP in a general population. Studies on opportunistic screening and studies using self-reported data were excluded. A random-effect model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored by stratification of the results.

Results

Twenty-nine studies with in a total of 20,361,756 women were included. Low income (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10–1.30), low education (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05–1.32), living far from an assigned screening unit (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07–1.24), being immigrant (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 2.48–2.82), and having a male family doctor (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.20–1.61) was associated with higher non-participation in screening. Reminders sent to non-attenders and estimations of ORs (adjusted or not) partly explained substantial heterogeneity.

Conclusion

In this meta-analysis excluding studies on the non-participation in opportunistic screening, or with self-reported data on non-participation, the well-known determinants for non-participation are still significant, but less strong. This analysis only supports the relevance of meta-analysis of studies with registered non-participation in a BCSP.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, CRD42020154016.

Disparities in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival Rate of Cervical Cancer among Women with and without Disabilities

Introduction

Not much is known regarding the disparities in cancer care between women with and without disabilities.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of women with cervical cancer with and without disabilities.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study and linked the National Disability Database, Korean Central Cancer Registry, and Korean National Health Insurance claims database. Charlson comorbidity index was used for adjusting the comorbidity. The study population comprised 3 185 women with disabilities (physical/brain, communication, mental, cardiopulmonary, and other impairment) who were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 13 582 age- and sex-matched women without disability who were diagnosed with cervical cancer for comparison.

Results

Distant metastatic stage (7.7% vs 3.7%) and unknown stage (16.1% vs 7.0%) were more common in cervical cancer women with grade 1 disabilities, compared with women without disabilities. Women with cervical cancer with disabilities were less likely to undergo surgery (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73–0.90) or chemotherapy (aOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.97). Lower rate of surgery was more evident in patients with physical/brain impairment (aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.37–0.58) and severe mental impairment (aOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41–0.81). The overall mortality risk was also higher in patients with disabilities (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.36, 95% CI 1.25–1.48).

Conclusion

Women with cervical cancer with disabilities, especially with severe disabilities, were diagnosed at later stages, received less treatment, and had higher mortality rates, compared with patients who lacked disabilities. Social support and policies, along with education for women with disabilities, their families, and healthcare professionals, are needed to improve these disparities.

Cancer-related mortality among people with intellectual disabilities: A nationwide population-based cohort study

Background

Concerns have been raised about access to cancer screening and the timely receipt of cancer care for people with an intellectual disability (ID). However, knowledge about cancer mortality as a potential consequence of these disparities is still limited. This study, therefore, compared cancer‐related mortality patterns between people with and without ID.

Methods

A historical cohort study (2015‐2019) linked the Dutch adult population (approximately 12 million people with an ID prevalence of 1.45%) and mortality registries. Cancer‐related mortality was identified by the underlying cause of death (according to the chapter on neoplasms in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision). Observed mortality and calculated age‐ and sex‐standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

Results

There were 11,102 deaths in the ID population (21.7% cancer‐related; n = 2408) and 730,405 deaths in the general population (31.2%; n = 228,120) available for analysis. Cancer was noted as the cause of death more often among people with ID in comparison with the general population (SMR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.42‐1.54), particularly in the young age groups. High‐mortality cancers included cancers within the national screening program (SMRs, 1.43‐1.94), digestive cancers (SMRs, 1.24‐2.56), bladder cancer (SMR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.61‐2.54), and cancers of unknown primary (SMR, 2.48; 95% CI, 2.06‐2.89).

Conclusions

Cancer was reported as the cause of death approximately 1.5 times more often in people with ID compared with the general population. This mortality disparity may indicate adverse effects from inequalities in screening and cancer care experienced by people with ID.

Lay Summary

People with an intellectual disability (ID) may find it challenging to participate in cancer screening or to receive timely cancer care.

To understand potential consequences in terms of mortality, this study compared cancer‐related mortality between people with and without ID in the Netherlands.

Cancer was reported as the cause of death approximately 1.5 times more often among people with ID than others.

Because large differences were found that were related to screening cancers and cancers for which the primary tumor was unknown, this study's results raise concerns about equality in screening practices and cancer care for people with ID.

Cancer is reported as the cause of death approximately 1.5 times more often in people with an intellectual disability compared with those without one. Differences are particularly noted for deaths related to cancers within the national screening program and cancers of unknown primary.

[Barriers to breast cancer screening for people with disabilities]

A significant increase in breast cancer is expected in the coming decades among people with disabilities. However, their participation rate in screening programs is significantly lower than women without disabilities. Our objective was therefore to analyse the barriers to breast cancer screening in people with disabilities based on a recent review of the international literature. The articles analysed were retrieved from the PUBMED database from 2014 to 2020 using the following keywords "breast cancer", "screening" and "disability". A total of 37 studies were included, including 30 original articles and 7 meta-analyses. The main barriers to performing breast cancer screening for women with disabilities were environmental factors such as lack of adapted transportation means or difficult access to medical facilities and mammography. To a lesser extent, the unsupportive views of family caregivers and health care staff about screening were also barriers to screening acceptance by people with disabilities. In general, breast cancer screening is a useful public health measure that reduces the burden of treatment and breast cancer-related mortality. Screening is useful for women over 50 years of age who have a sufficiently long-life expectancy, generally estimated at more than 10 years. Educational measures are needed to reduce the barriers to screening for PH who meet these criteria, their caregivers, and their providers so that they can actively participate in health care, rather than being marginalized because of their disability.

Encouraging participation in colorectal cancer screening for people with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

We examined the efficacy of a case management approach to improve participation in colorectal cancer screening among people with schizophrenia.

METHODS

This was a randomized, parallel group trial. We recruited outpatients with schizophrenia aged 40 years or over from two psychiatric hospitals in Japan. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment as usual or case management intervention plus treatment as usual using a web-based system. Attending clinicians and participants were unmasked to the allocation. Case management included education and patient navigation for colorectal cancer screening using a fecal occult blood test. Treatment as usual included direct mail government recommendations. The primary endpoint was participation in colorectal cancer screening assessed using municipal records. We also assessed the secondary endpoint of participation in other cancer screenings (lung, gastric, breast, and cervical).

RESULTS

Between 3 June and 9 September 2019, 172 eligible participants were randomly assigned to the case management plus treatment as usual group (n = 86) or treatment as usual group (n = 86). One participant was ineligible and another withdrew consent; both were excluded from analysis. A significantly higher proportion of participants received colorectal cancer screening in the case management plus treatment as usual group than in the treatment as usual group (40 [47.1%] of 85 participants vs. 10 [11.8%] of 85 participants, p < 0.0001). The proportion of lung cancer screening also increased. No serious adverse events associated with the study intervention occurred.

CONCLUSION

The case management intervention to encourage participation in colorectal cancer screening was effective for patients with schizophrenia.

Effectiveness of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program in reducing breast cancer mortality

High incidences of breast cancer (BC) are reported in Asian women in their forties, and it is not clear whether mammographic screening reduces mortality among them. This study evaluated the effect of BC screening on mortality in Korea. We conducted a nationwide prospective cohort study of women invited to the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (KNCSP) between 2002 and 2003 (N = 8,300,682), with data linkage to the Korea Central Cancer Registry and death certificates through 2014 and 2015, respectively. Exposure to mammographic screening was defined using a modified never/ever approach. The primary study outcome was adjusted mortality rate ratio (MRR) for BC among screened and non-screened women estimated by Poisson regression. An adjusted MRR for all cause-death other than BC was examined to account for selection bias in the cohort. BC incidence rates for screened and non-screened women were 84.41 and 82.88 per 100,000 women-years, respectively. BC mortality rates for screened and non-screened women were 5.81 and 13.43 per 100,000 women-years, respectively, with an adjusted MRR for BC of 0.43 (95% CI, 0.41-0.44). The adjusted MRR for all-cause death excluding BC was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.52-0.52). The greatest reduction in BC mortality was noted for women aged 45-54 years, and there was no observable reduction in mortality after the age of 70 years. In conclusion, the KNCSP has been effective in reducing BC mortality among Korean women aged 40-69 years.

Disparities in prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival among men with disabilities: Retrospective cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Disparities in cancer care have not been well documented for individuals with disability.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of prostate cancer (PC) patients according to disability status.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study using disability registration data linked to Korean National Health Insurance and national cancer registry data. Totals of 7924 prostate cancer cases among patients with disabilities (diagnosed between 2005 and 2013) and 34,188 PC patients without disability were included.

RESULTS

While overall PC stage distribution at diagnosis was similar, unknown stage was more common in patients with severe disabilities compared to those without disabilities (18.1% vs. 16.2%, respectively). People with disabilities were less likely to undergo surgery (33.1% vs. 38.6%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.84), and more likely to receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (57.9% vs. 55%, respectively; aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.16) compared to those without disabilities. This was more evident for people with severe brain/mental impairment (aORs 0.29 for surgery; 1.52 for ADT). Patients with disabilities had higher overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15-1.25), but only slightly higher PC-specific mortality after adjustment for patient factors and treatment (aHR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.18) than people without disability.

CONCLUSIONS

PC patients with disabilities underwent less staging work-up and were more likely to receive ADT than surgical treatment. Overall mortality of PC patients with disabilities was greater than those of PC patients without disability, but PC-specific mortality was only slightly worse.

Disparities in cancer-related healthcare among people with intellectual disabilities: A population-based cohort study with health insurance claims data

Background

Concerns have been raised about the accessibility and quality of cancer‐related care for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, there is limited insight into cancer incidence and the utilization of cancer care at the ID population level to inform targeted cancer control strategies. Therefore, we aimed to examine differences in the utilization of cancer‐related care between people with and without ID, identified through diagnostic codes on health insurance claims.

Methods

In a population‐based cohort study, Dutch individuals of all ages who received residential care through the Chronic Care Act due to an ID (n = 65 183) and an age and sex‐matched sample of persons without ID (1:2 ratio), who were cancer‐free at enrollment in 2013 were followed through 2015. Incidence rates (IRs) of newly started cancer care and IR ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were used to compare groups. Separate analyses were performed per cancer type.

Results

Individuals with ID received less cancer‐related care than individuals without (IRR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.62‐0.66). Differences increased with age and were larger for females than for males. Utilization of care for cancers within the national screening program (female breast, cervical, and colon cancer) was lower for people with ID compared to people without ID.

Conclusion

Cancer may be underdiagnosed and/or undertreated in people with ID, or cancer is truly less prevalent in this population. In particular, the differences detected between males and females with ID, and the potential underutilization of national screening programs, require urgent follow‐up investigations.