The role of area deprivation index in health care disruptions among cancer survivors during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To examine the associations between demographic/medical and geographic factors with follow-up medical care and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among cancer survivors during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

An online survey was sent to cancer survivors between May 2020 and January 2021, exploring their experience with SARS-CoV-2, follow-up care, and HRQoL. PolicyMap was used to geocode home addresses. Both geographic and demographic/medical factors were examined for their associations with SARS-CoV-2 experience, follow-up care, and HRQoL (FACT-G7).

RESULTS

Geographic data were available for 9651 participants. Patients living in the highest area deprivation index (ADI) neighborhoods (most deprived) had higher odds of avoiding in-person general (odds ratio [OR] = 7.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.79-18.60), cancer (OR = 8.47; 95% CI = 3.73-19.30), and emergency (OR = 14.2; 95% CI = 5.57-36.30) medical care, as well as lower odds of using telemedicine (OR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.52-0.73) compared to the lowest ADI group. Race/ethnicity was not associated with follow-up care after controlling for ADI. The effect of ADI on HRQoL was generally in the expected direction, with higher ADI being associated with worse HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

ADI influenced follow-up medical care more than age, race/ethnicity, or health insurance type. Healthcare providers and institutions should focus on decreasing barriers to in-person and telemedicine health care that disproportionally impact those living in more deprived communities, which are exacerbated by health care disruptions like those caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Abstract PD08-05: Spanning the Continuum to assess, serve and navigate Latinas with breast cancer: A Tale of Six Projects

Background Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Latinas: 14,200 diagnosed in 2009. Groundbreaking work has shown that patient navigation may assist minority patients to negotiate the Cancer Care Continuum. Here we report the efforts of Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network at the Institute for Health Promotion Research in San Antonio, Texas in applying these findings to Latinas.

Methods We conducted six studies to assess and address the needs and self-reported barriers to care of Latina breast cancer patients, leading to the development and controlled trial of a theory-driven, culturally appropriate patient navigation model and program. We currently are evaluating health-related quality of life and barriers to genetic testing in Latina breast cancer survivors.

Results Latinas with breast cancer face significant obstacles across the cancer care continuum, originating from multiple domains, including traditional values, timely access to care and cultural orientation. These have a direct influence on interaction with the system or indirectly via influences on existing barriers including socioeconomic marginalization and affective response to the stress of any of these.

Perceived stress is associated with CD4+ cell decline in men and women living with HIV/AIDS in Spain

This study assessed whether perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was associated with a decline in CD4+ cell counts over a six-month period in 59 men and 41 women living with HIV-1. Participants underwent psychological and medical assessment at the study entry (baseline) and again at six months post-baseline. In a hierarchical regression model controlling for sociodemographic (e.g. age, gender, education, income) and disease-related variables (e.g. duration of antiretroviral treatment, antiretroviral treatment and adherence, CD4+ cell count and viral load), perceived stress was associated with the decline in CD4+ cell count over the six-month period. These findings suggest perceived psychosocial stress is associated with CD4+ cell count decline independent of sociodemographic factors and disease status among men and women on antiretroviral medication for HIV/AIDS.

Psychiatric symptoms and HIV risk in MMPI-2 cluster subgroups of polysubstance abusers in treatment

This-investigation identified personality subgroups based upon cluster analysis of MMPI-2 records of polysubstance abusers. Subgroups were compared on lifetime and current psychiatric symptoms and on attitudes and behaviors linked with HIV infection risk. High psychopathology, mild psychopathology, and subclinical MMPI-2 cluster types were identified which resemble those that have been identified in earlier studies with the original version of the MMPI. The High Psychopathology Subgroup had significantly higher proportions with all lifetime psychiatric problems (ASI), higher levels of all current psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90), and lower levels of confidence in ability to enact safer sexual practices than the Subclinical Cluster Subgroup. Fewer differences in lifetime and concurrent psychiatric symptoms were found in comparisons involving High Pathology and Mild Pathology cluster subgroups and Mild Psychopathology and Subclinical cluster subgroups. Those in the High Psychopathology Subgroup likely need treatment programs that address their more chronic and serious mental health problems and interventions that target their judgment and problem solving limitations that may increase HIV infection risk.