Poverty and Mortality Risk in Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Which risk factors mediate the association between living in persistent poverty areas and increased mortality?In this cohort study that included 5028 patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 382 urban census tracts, there was significant evidence of mediation by stage at diagnosis (33.7% mediation), not having surgery (29.3% mediation), and type of health insurance (13.8% mediation).These findings suggest that investments are needed to improve screening and subsequent follow-up and to facilitate the receipt of surgery, financial assistance, and other patient support programs, which may reduce the increased risk of mortality among patients with colorectal cancer in urban persistent poverty areas.

Corresponding Author: Mario Schootman, PhD, UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 2708 S 48th St, Springdale, AR 72762 (mschootman@uams.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.