title: Socioeconomic status and chemotherapy use for melanoma in older people.
abstract: The study objective was to examine the association, among older persons with cutaneous melanoma, between areal socioeconomic status (SES) and receiving chemotherapy. SEER-Medicare-linked database (1,239 white men and women aged ≥ 66, with invasive melanoma [regional and distant stages]; 1991-1999) was used. SES was measured by census tract poverty level (average of 1990 and 2000 Census data). Covariates were sociodemographics, tumor characteristics, and comorbidity index. Residing in poorer SES areas was associated with a lower likelihood for receiving chemotherapy among patients in the overall sample (adjusted odds ratios = OR 0.97, 95% confidence interval = CI 0.95-0.99), and those with regional stage at diagnosis (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-0.98). These findings reflect socioeconomic disparities in chemotherapy use for melanoma among older white patients in the United States.
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas Health Science Center.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reyes-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch.
authors.forename: Dong D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch.
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011204:Poverty Areas; D018426:SEER Program; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents