National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (1)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedEnzinger AC, Ghosh K, Keating NL
Racial and ethnic disparities in opioid access and urine drug screening among older patients with poor-prognosis cancer near the end of life.
This research characterized racial and ethnic disparities and trends in opioid access and urine drug screening (UDS) among older patients dying of cancer, and to explore potential mechanisms. Among 18,549 non-Hispanic White (White), Black, and Hispanic Medicare decedents older than 65 years with poor-prognosis cancers, the authors examined 2007-2019 trends in opioid prescription fills and potency (morphine milligram equivalents [MMEs] per day [MMEDs]) near the end of life (EOL), defined as 30 days before death or hospice enrollment. They found that between 2007 and 2019, White, Black, and Hispanic decedents experienced steady declines in EOL opioid access and rapid expansion of UDS. Compared with White patients, Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to receive any opioid (Black, -4.3 percentage points; Hispanic, -3.6 percentage points) and long-acting opioids (Black, -3.1 percentage points; Hispanic, -2.2 percentage points). They also received lower daily doses (Black, -10.5 MMED; Hispanic, -9.1 MMED) and lower total doses (Black, -210 MMEs; Hispanic, -179 MMEs). Black patients were also more likely to undergo UDS (0.5 percentage points).
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Enzinger AC, Ghosh K, Keating NL .
Racial and ethnic disparities in opioid access and urine drug screening among older patients with poor-prognosis cancer near the end of life.
J Clin Oncol 2023 May 10; 41(14):2511-22. doi: 10.1200/jco.22.01413..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Cancer, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Access to Care
Jiang Y, Mason M, Cho Y
Tolerance to oral anticancer agent treatment in older adults with cancer: a secondary analysis of data from electronic health records and a pilot study of patient-reported outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to explore the tolerance of capecitabine oral chemotherapy among older adults with cancer and investigate factors associated with related side effects and treatment changes. The researchers combined data from electronic health records and a pilot study of patient-reported outcomes, and found that older adults were more likely to experience fatigue and experienced more severe fatigue and hand-foot syndrome (HFS) than younger adults. The severity of fatigue and HFS were associated with the number of outpatient medications and the duration of treatment respectively. Female sex, breast cancer diagnosis, capecitabine monotherapy, and severe HFS were found to be associated with subsequent dose reductions. The study concluded that older adults were less likely to tolerate capecitabine treatment and had different co-occurring side effects compared to younger adults.
AHRQ-funded; HS027846.
Citation: Jiang Y, Mason M, Cho Y .
Tolerance to oral anticancer agent treatment in older adults with cancer: a secondary analysis of data from electronic health records and a pilot study of patient-reported outcomes.
BMC Cancer 2022 Sep 3;22(1):950. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-10026-3..
Keywords: Elderly, Cancer, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Gibson DC, Raji MA, Baillargeon JG
Regional and temporal variation in receipt of long-term opioid therapy among older breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors in the United States.
The authors investigated the geographical and temporal variation in long-term opioid therapy rates for older cancer survivors using SEER-Medicare data. They found that the annual trends in the receipt of long-term opioid therapy significantly varied by region among older cancer survivors. They indicated that variation in a clinical practice suggested the need for more research and interventions in order to improve efficiency, process, cost, and quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS026133.
Citation: Gibson DC, Raji MA, Baillargeon JG .
Regional and temporal variation in receipt of long-term opioid therapy among older breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors in the United States.
Cancer Med 2021 Mar;10(5):1550-61. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3709..
Keywords: Elderly, Cancer, Opioids, Medication
Olszewski AJ, Zullo AR, Nering CR
Use of charity financial assistance for novel oral anticancer agents.
Novel oral targeted drugs are increasingly used for cancer therapy, but their extreme cost, often exceeding $10,000 per month, poses a significant barrier for patients and insurers alike. The findings findings of this study indicate that high out-of-pocket burden for expensive novel oral anticancer drugs leads to widespread use of charity support in the United States and that a significant financial barrier disparately affects older Medicare beneficiaries.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Olszewski AJ, Zullo AR, Nering CR .
Use of charity financial assistance for novel oral anticancer agents.
J Oncol Pract 2018 Apr;14(4):e221-e28. doi: 10.1200/jop.2017.027896.
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Keywords: Cancer, Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Medication
Shih YT, Xu Y, Liu L
Rising prices of targeted oral anticancer medications and associated financial burden on Medicare beneficiaries.
This study examined trends in targeted oral anticancer medication (TOAM) prices and patient out-of-pocket (OOP) payments in Medicare Part D and estimated the actual effects on patient OOP payments of partial filling of the coverage gap by 2012. It concluded that rising TOAM prices threaten the financial relief patients have begun to experience under closure of the coverage gap in Medicare Part D.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Shih YT, Xu Y, Liu L .
Rising prices of targeted oral anticancer medications and associated financial burden on Medicare beneficiaries.
J Clin Oncol 2017 Aug 1;35(22):2482-89. doi: 10.1200/jco.2017.72.3742.
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Keywords: Cancer, Medication, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly
Winters-Stone KM, Moe E, Graff JN
Falls and frailty in prostate cancer survivors: current, past, and never users of androgen deprivation therapy.
This study compared the prevalence of and association between falls and frailty of prostate cancer survivors (PCSs) who were current, past or never users of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). It concluded that current and past exposure to ADT is linked to higher risk of falls and frailty than no treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Winters-Stone KM, Moe E, Graff JN .
Falls and frailty in prostate cancer survivors: current, past, and never users of androgen deprivation therapy.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2017 Jul;65(7):1414-19. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14795.
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Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Falls, Medication, Elderly
Shen C, Zhao B, Liu L
Financial burden for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia enrolled in Medicare Part D taking targeted oral anticancer medications.
In this study, the investigators examined financial burden for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia enrolled in Medicare Part D taking targeted oral anticancer medications. The authors concluded that patients experience quick entry and exit from the coverage gap (also called the donut hole) as a result of the high price of targeted oral anticancer medications. They suggested that closing the donut hole would provide financial relief during the initial month(s) of treatment but will not completely eliminate the financial burden.
AHRQ-funded; HS020263.
Citation: Shen C, Zhao B, Liu L .
Financial burden for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia enrolled in Medicare Part D taking targeted oral anticancer medications.
J Oncol Pract 2017 Feb;13(2):e152-e62. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2016.014639..
Keywords: Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Medication
Arvold ND, Cefalu M, Wang Y
Comparative effectiveness of radiotherapy with vs. without temozolomide in older patients with glioblastoma.
It is unknown whether the addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to radiotherapy (RT) is associated with improved overall survival among older glioblastoma patients. This study found that among a large cohort of older glioblastoma patients treated in a real-world setting, the addition of TMZ to RT was associated with a small survival gain.
AHRQ-funded; HS021991.
Citation: Arvold ND, Cefalu M, Wang Y .
Comparative effectiveness of radiotherapy with vs. without temozolomide in older patients with glioblastoma.
J Neurooncol 2017 Jan;131(2):301-11. doi: 10.1007/s11060-016-2294-7.
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Keywords: Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Elderly, Medication, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research