Survival disparities in patients with lymphoma according to place of residence and treatment provider: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
Health disparities exist according to an individual's place of residence. We evaluated the association between primary area of residence (urban v rural) according to treatment provider (university based v community based) and overall survival in patients with lymphoma and determined whether there are patient groups that could benefit from better coordination of care.


METHODS
Population-based, retrospective cohort study of 2,330 patients with centrally confirmed lymphoma from Nebraska and surrounding states and treated by university-based or community-based oncologists from 1982 to 2006.


RESULTS
Among urban residents, 321 (14%) were treated by university-based providers (UUB) and 816 (35%) were treated by community-based providers (UCB). Among rural residents, 332 (14%) were treated by university-based providers (RUB), and 861 (37%) were treated by community-based providers (RCB). The relative risk (RR) of death among UUB, UCB, and RUB were not statistically different. However, RCB had a higher risk of death (RR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.65; P = .01; and RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.49; P = .01) when compared with UUB and RUB, respectively. This association was true in both low- and intermediate-risk patients. Among high-risk patients, UCB, RUB, and RCB were all at higher risk of death when compared with UUB.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival outcomes of patients with lymphoma may be associated with place of residence and treatment provider. High-risk patients from rural areas may benefit from better coordination of care.
Loberiza
Fausto R
FR
Section of Oncology-Hematology, Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7680, USA. floberiza@unmc.edu
Cannon
Anthony J
AJ
Weisenburger
Dennis D
DD
Vose
Julie M
JM
Moehr
Matt J
MJ
Bast
Martin A
MA
Bierman
Philip J
PJ
Bociek
R Gregory
RG
Armitage
James O
JO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult