Statistics, Department of
Date of this Version
3-2023
Citation
Published by the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine. March 2023 Volume 7 Issue 2
Abstract
Background: The incidence of melanoma is rapidly increasing in the United States. There is a paucity of research of how melanoma affects the Hispanic population, the quickest growing population.
Objective: To identify and understand how socioeconomic factors affect a Hispanic patients health outcome and treatment of malignant melanoma with comparisons to white, non-Hispanic (WNH) patients.
Methods: A retrospective study utilizing the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was completed investigating Hispanic patients (n=2282) and WNH patients (n=190,469) with Stage I-IV malignant melanoma. Outcome and socioeconomic variables were identified and compared across groups. Data was analyzed with SPSS and SAS Statistical Software; Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression Models were computed.
Results: Hispanic patients have 2.50 higher odds of being diagnosed with Stage IV vs. Stage I melanoma when compared to WNH patients (95% CI 2.20-2.86, p<0.001). Differences in insurance status, income, education, facility type, facility location, urban/rural, Charlson-Deyo score, and stage are all statistically significant for WNH compared to Hispanic patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In addition to various socioeconomic disparities, Hispanic patients are more likely than WNH patients to have melanoma diagnosed at higher stages and subtypes with worse prognosis. Clinicians need to provide skin cancer education and prevention and mobilize resources to serve this diverse population.
Comments
Used by permission.