Cancer patient demographics
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Cancer Patient Demographics: Age, Gender, and Race
Recent research shows that cancer patient demographics in clinical trials and care settings are not always representative of the broader population. In large oncology clinical trials, younger patients (under 65) made up about 60% of participants, while those over 65 accounted for 40%. Females were slightly more represented than males (54% vs. 46%) . In India, about 36% of cancer patients were aged 60 or older, with a median age of 67 years among older patients. There was a male predominance in this group, with nearly 60% being male . In the U.S., lung cancer mortality rates have historically been higher in men, but the gap between men and women has narrowed over time .
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Patients
Caucasian patients are the majority in clinical trials (71%), with Asians (20%), Blacks (4%), and other/missing groups (5%) underrepresented. Hispanic ethnicity was reported in only 12% of cases where ethnicity data was available . In hospital-based studies, Whites were the largest group of cancer patients, but Black and Hispanic patients had higher rates of COVID-related cancer hospitalizations compared to Whites and Asians . At the Prisma Health Cancer Institute, African American males had a higher likelihood of breast cancer diagnosis and a greater proportion of stage IV lung cancer compared to White males, reflecting national trends of increased late-stage diagnoses in African Americans .
Socioeconomic and Geographic Factors
Patients from more advantaged neighborhoods and urban areas are more likely to receive care at accredited cancer centers. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely to be seen at these facilities compared to White patients, but rural and low-income patients were underrepresented . In supportive oncology services, White, English-speaking, and female patients were the top users, with Black patients more likely to access senior oncology and palliative medicine services .
Cancer Types and Prevalence by Demographics
Among older Indian patients, head and neck, breast, and genitourinary cancers were most common . In the U.S., hematological cancers had the highest hospitalization rates among both COVID and non-COVID cancer patients . African Americans had a higher probability of late-stage lung and breast cancer diagnoses .
Impact of Demographics on Cancer Outcomes
Older age, comorbidities, and poorer performance status are linked to worse survival in lung cancer patients, as seen in Bangladesh . Lower health literacy, financial hardship, and being a woman or non-native citizen were associated with lower ratings of cancer care and more problematic care experiences in Switzerland .
Service Utilization and Access
Younger patients were more likely to use integrative, survivorship, and psychological services, while older patients used palliative and senior oncology services more often . Differences in service access were also noted by race, gender, and geography, with urban and younger patients more likely to access a broader range of services .
Conclusion
Cancer patient demographics reveal significant disparities in age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. These disparities affect access to care, representation in clinical trials, cancer type prevalence, and outcomes. Efforts to improve diversity in clinical trials, address socioeconomic and geographic barriers, and tailor interventions for underrepresented groups are essential for achieving equitable cancer care and outcomes Reddy2024Noronha2024Didier2024+6 MORE.
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