208 Background: Considerable data exists examining disparities in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Black patients, in particular those of lower socioeconomic status (SES), are less likely to receive appropriate care, including induction therapy and resection of surgically treatable lesions. We analyzed the outcomes of resection of NSCLC among a racially and financially diverse patient population at a large urban hospital network with a comprehensive thoracic oncology program. In this system, a patient navigation support team helped overcome barriers to preoperative preparation and multidisciplinary referral. Methods: A retrospective review of 345 patients who underwent lobectomy at our institution from 2002 - 2011 was performed. Data was retrieved from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database and patient charts. Patient demographics, payor information and preoperative characteristics were noted. Postoperative complications, 30-day survival and 3-year survival were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables and Student's t-test was used to compare continuous variables. Results: Demographics of black and non-black patients were similar. There were more black patients within the Medicaid group than non-Medicaid (48.9% and 25.3%, p=0.001). Physiologic characteristics, risk factors and use of pre-operative RT and chemotherapy were similar. Post-operative complications were comparable in Medicaid vs. non-Medicaid (11.1% and 14.7%, p=0.524), however black patients had a lower rate of complications vs. non-black (6.1% and 17.4%, p=0.007). 3-year survival was similar in the black vs. non-black (82.3% and 78.6%, p=0.879) and Medicaid vs. non-Medicaid (66.7% and 78.8%, p=0.342) groups. Conclusions: We demonstrated equivalent surgical outcomes for NSCLC in addition to the similar use of induction therapy. Surprisingly, complications were lower in the black cohort. Our results reveal that appropriate treatment is being provided regardless of race or SES, and postulate that our system of preoperative patient support eliminates potential barriers to care.
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