Racial and ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and outcomes in elderly prostate cancer patients.
Substance use among cancer patients is an important psychosocial comorbidity. Currently, there is a paucity of information regarding racial disparity in substance use among cancer patients. The objective of this study was to analyze racial and ethnic disparity in prevalence of substance use and its effects on outcomes in Medicare elderly with advanced prostate cancer using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data. We used ICD-9 diagnosis codes to identify substance use disorder. Outcomes were health service use, cost, and mortality. Prevalence of substance use varied among White, African American, and Hispanic patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer. Racial and ethnic disparity existed in the association between substance use and outcomes. A multidisciplinary coordinated care approach is essential to address racial and ethnic disparities in substance use among prostate cancer patients and to achieve optimal clinical management and improved outcomes of care.
a Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania.
Sumedha
S
Chhatre
a Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania.
Ravishankar
R
Jayadevappa
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*
Elderly; Medicare; prostate cancer; race and ethnicity; substance use