Explaining inequalities in access to treatment in lung cancer

Abstract

Socio-economic deprivation was associated with lower rates of treatment and this partly explained variations in survival. Subjects who were referred to specialists were more likely to receive active treatment and treatment patterns varied between first trust attended.

Lung cancer in England: Information from the National Lung Cancer Audit (LUCADA)

“…Whilst there are few published national studies of health service research involving lung cancer in England, there have been smaller audits at a regional level which have described geographical variation in treatment and survival for people with lung cancer [6,7]. Jack et al [6] found that a deprived socio-economic status was linked to a reduced likelihood of receiving chemotherapy, but that it had no impact on 1-or 3-year survival, findings consistent with our own results.…”

Socioeconomic inequalities in lung cancer mortality in 16 European populations

“…Some studies have suggested a possible role of other environmental and occupational exposures [38], poor lung health, deprivation and poor socioeconomic conditions throughout life [8], differences in access to treatment [39,40] and differences in survival [41]. Some of these factors are more plausible than others.…”

Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival in Scotland 1986–2000

“…Possible explanations for socioeconomic variations in survival include variations in comorbidity (Schrijvers et al, 1997), stage at diagnosis (Schrijvers et al, 1995b;Ionescu et al, 1998;Brewster et al, 2001) and treatment (Campbell et al, 2002;Hole and McArdle, 2002;Jack et al, 2006). Only a few studies have adjusted for these factors, or examined their interaction with deprivation.…”