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Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer

Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer BackgroundDespite increasingly widespread use of the Papanicolaou smear, almost half of all women with invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed at a late stage (regional or distant). Little is known about factors associated with late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship of age, race, education level, income level, smoking, marital status, health insurance type, comorbidity, and residence in an urban or rural setting to late stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.MethodsIncident cases of invasive cervical cancer occurring in 1994 in Florida were identified from the state tumor registry (N=852). Cases were linked with state discharge abstracts and the 1990 US census. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between predictor variables (age, race or ethnicity, marital status, smoking status, education level, income level, insurance type, comorbidity, and urban vs rural residence) and the odds of late-stage diagnosis.ResultsAge, marital status, and insurance type were associated with late-stage diagnosis. Each additional year of age was associated with a 3% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (odds ratio [OR&rsqb;, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI&rsqb;, 1.02-1.05; P<.001). Being unmarried was associated with a 63% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.18-2.25; P=.003). Being uninsured was associated with a 60% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; P=.02). Having commercial health maintenance organization insurance was associated with a 46% decreased odds of late-stage disease (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.96; P=.04). Race, education level, income level, smoking status, comorbidity, and urban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis.ConclusionsWomen with cervical cancer who are elderly, unmarried, and uninsured are more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage. These women should be targeted for cervical cancer education and screening programs.IN 1998 THERE were 13,700 estimated cases of invasive cervical cancer and 4900 deaths from cervical cancer in the United States.Stage at diagnosis is the most important prognostic determinant for invasive cervical cancer. Five-year survival is more than 90% for patients diagnosed as having localized disease, less than 50% for those with regional spread, and only 8% for those with distant disease.It is widely accepted that Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening reduces the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer by detecting the cancer at an early or precancerous stage. Even with increasingly widespread use of the Pap test, almost half of all women with invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed as having disease at a late stage (regional or distant).More must be learned about factors affecting stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer to improve early detection of this potentially preventable and curable cancer.The following factors have been shown in previous studies to be associated with later stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer: older age,black race or Hispanic ethnicity,and low education and income levels.These studies, however, did not control for confounding factors such as insurance type, comorbidity, or place of residence. Little is known about other possible predictors of late-stage diagnosis, such as a patient's smoking status, marital status, health insurance type, comorbidity, or residence in an urban or rural setting. Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer and seems to have a promotional effect that might lead to a later stage at diagnosis.Smoking is also an independent risk factor for mortality within 5 years of presentation of cervical cancer.Unmarried women were more likely to be diagnosed as having advanced cervical cancer in one study,but not in others.Among Medicare patients with cervical cancer, those enrolled in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are less likely than fee-for-service enrollees to be diagnosed at a late stage.To our knowledge, no studies have examined the relationship of smoking, other health insurance types, comorbidity, or residence in an urban or rural setting to late stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer. By identifying predictors of late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer, health education campaigns and interventions can be targeted toward certain populations. In addition, we can determine whether a specific form of health insurance defines a population at risk for late-stage cervical cancer.This study used administrative data from Florida to determine clinical and demographic factors associated with stage at diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer. Our study controlled for age, race, education level, income level, smoking status, marital status, health insurance type, comorbid conditions, and residence in an urban or rural setting. We hypothesized that the following factors would be associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis: older age, nonwhite race, lower socioeconomic status, smoking, being unmarried, being uninsured, having other comorbid medical conditions, and living in a nonurban area.MATERIALS AND METHODSDATA SOURCESWe studied incident cases of invasive cervical cancer occurring in Florida during 1994 for which stage at diagnosis was available (N=852). Data from 1994 were used because this was the most recent year for which all relevant data were available. Incident cases were identified from the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS), Florida's population-based statewide cancer registry. The FCDS was created in 1978 and has been collecting data on cancer incidence since 1981. The FCDS has well-established methods to ensure complete case finding, including cooperative arrangements with other state tumor registries, linkage with other databases, and ad hoc audits of reporting facilities. The development of cervical cancer proceeds along a continuum from precancerous stages (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) to in situ cancers to frank invasive lesions. Invasive lesions are categorized by the FCDS as local (confined to the organ of origin), regional (cancers that have spread to regional lymph nodes or by direct extension beyond the organ of origin), and metastatic (lesions that have metastasized to distant sites). We had access to invasive lesions only because these are the only cancers reportable to the FCDS. In situ cervical cancers are not reportable to the FCDS and were therefore not included in our analysis.The FCDS was the source for measures such as smoking status, marital status, age, race, and address of residence. To include information that is not routinely available from the FCDS (insurance payer, comorbidity, and socioeconomic status), cases were linked with state discharge abstracts and the 1990 US census. We obtained insurance payer and comorbidity information using state discharge abstracts. Comorbidity was determined using methods described by Charlsonand Deyoand colleagues. The Charlson comorbidity index is not an exhaustive list of all possible comorbid conditions, but is rather a weighted index of 19 selected categories of disease that were found to be associated with mortality and other important health outcomes. Increasing scores on the Charlson comorbidity index reflect an increasing burden of comorbid conditions. We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, mapping of comorbid conditions as described by Deyo et al.Cancer-related conditions were excluded. We used the original weights described by Charlson in calculating a morbidity index (theoretical range, 0-23). We defined 3 categories of comorbidity (0, 1, and ≥2) based on the patient's index score. Administrative data have generally proven accurate and valid in studies of cancer care.The 1990 US census was used to obtain aggregate measures of socioeconomic status. The FCDS provides the street address and ZIP code for each patient's residence. For 90% of patients, we were able to obtain the census tract of residence by geocoding their street address. For the remaining 10%, we used their ZIP code. Each individual was assigned the median income and education levels of the census tract (90% of patients) or ZIP code (10% of patients) of their residence. The use of census-derived measures of socioeconomic status has been validated in previous studies.This study was approved by the institutional review board of the University of South Florida, Tampa.DATA ANALYSISThe main outcome variable, stage at diagnosis, was defined using the SEER Site-Specific Summary Staging Guide.Stage at diagnosis is based on a combination of pathological, operative, and clinical assessments available within 2 months of diagnosis. For these analyses, stage at diagnosis was reclassified as either early (local) or late (regional and distant).Variables assessed as possible predictors of late-stage diagnosis included age, race, marital status, current smoking status, median education level, median income level, comorbidity, urban residence, and insurance type. The relationship between predictor variables and likelihood of late-stage diagnosis was first assessed using the χ2test or Wilcoxon rank sum test as appropriate. The multivariate relationship between predictor variables and the odds of late-stage diagnosis were then examined using multiple logistic regression. Indicator variables were created for race (white and nonwhite), insurance type (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial HMO, commercial preferred provider organization, commercial indemnity, other insurance, and uninsured), smoking status (smoker and nonsmoker), marital status (married and nonmarried), comorbidity, and residence (urban and nonurban). We did not have sufficient sample size and statistical power to examine categories of nonwhite race. Commercial HMO insurance is defined by the FCDS as all HMO insurance plans other than HMOs provided by Medicare or Medicaid.The statistical significance of individual indicator variables was assessed using the χ2likelihood ratio test.To avoid forcing linear relationships with quantitative variables such as age, indicator variables were also created according to age categories.Relationships were then examined by graphing the corresponding odds ratios (ORs) for age categories.Linear relationships between age and the odds of late-stage diagnosis were subsequently tested in logistic models using the χ2likelihood ratio test.Adjusted ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. All reported Pvalues are 2 tailed. Statistical significance was set at α=.05.RESULTSThe overall age-adjusted incidence rate of cervical cancer in Florida in 1994 was 10.5 cases per 100,000 population. The age-adjusted rate of late-stage cervical cancer was 4.84 cases per 100,000 population. Table 1describes the characteristics of women diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer in Florida in 1994. The mean (SD) age of patients having invasive cervical cancer was 52 (16) years (range, 21-96 years). There were notable numbers of patients who were nonwhite (including blacks and Hispanics), of low socioeconomic status, and uninsured. About 45% of patients with invasive cervical cancer had disease that had spread beyond the cervix.Table 1. Characteristics of Women Diagnosed as Having Invasive Cervical Cancer in Florida in 1994CharacteristicWomen, No. (%) (N=852)*Age, y<3042 (4.9)30-39187 (21.9)40-49205 (24.1)50-59157 (18.4)60-69128 (15.0)≥70133 (15.6)RaceWhite587 (68.9)Nonwhite†265 (31.1)Median household income, $‡<15,00073 (8.6)15,000-24,999277 (32.5)25,000-34,999368 (43.2)35,000-49,999105 (12.3)≥50,00021 (2.5)Median education level‡High school or less466 (54.7)More than high school378 (44.4)Marital statusCurrently married401 (47.1)Not married451 (52.9)Insurance payerCommercial indemnity125 (14.7)Medicare172 (20.1)Medicaid77 (9.0)Commercial health maintenance organization104 (12.2)Commercial preferred provider organization92 (10.8)Uninsured131 (15.4)Other§36 (4.2)Smoking statusCurrent smoker250 (29.3)Nonsmoker602 (70.7)Comorbid conditions0776 (91.1)166 (7.7)≥210 (1.2)ResidenceUrban464 (54.5)Nonurban388 (45.5)Stage of diseaseLocal466 (54.7)Regional298 (35.0)Distant88 (10.3)*Numbers may not sum to total sample size because of missing data.†Includes non-Hispanic black (n=138), Hispanic (n=113), and other (n=14).‡By census tract or ZIP code of residence. §Includes Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) (n=8), state and local government health insurance programs (n=15), and unspecified (n=13).In bivariate analysis, patients who were diagnosed at a late stage were older than those diagnosed at an early stage (55.2 vs 48.4 years; t=6.4; P<.001). Table 2presents the results of bivariate analysis. Greater likelihood of late-stage diagnosis was associated with being unmarried, having lower education and income levels, and having Medicare insurance or no insurance. Stage was not related to race, smoking, comorbidity, or place of residence. To examine the relationship between age and stage at diagnosis, ORs for age categories were graphed (Figure 1). The relationship appeared linear, with increasing age being associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis. Age was therefore modeled as a linear variable.Table 2. Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer Diagnosis*Predictor VariableWomen, No./Total (%) (N=852)†PRaceWhite262/587 (44.6).56Nonwhite124/265 (46.8)Marital statusMarried153/401 (38.2).001Not married233/451 (51.7)Education level‡Less than high school37/72 (51.4)High school graduate189/374 (50.0).02Some college134/324 (41.4)College graduate20/54 (37.0)Income level, $‡<15,00038/73 (52.0)15,000-24,999131/277 (47.3)25,000-34,999162/368 (44.0).0435,000-49,99942/105 (40.0)≥50,0007/21 (33.3)Insurance payerMedicare99/172 (57.6).001Medicaid36/77 (46.8)Commercial insurance52/125 (41.6)Commercial health maintenance organization29/104 (27.9)Commercial preferred provider organization41/92 (44.6)Uninsured72/131 (55.0)Other19/35 (54.3)Smoking statusCurrent smoker118/250 (47.2).47Nonsmoker268/602 (44.5)Comorbid conditions0348/776 (44.8)131/66 (47.0).22≥27/10 (70.0)ResidenceUrban220/464 (47.4).18Nonurban166/388 (42.8)*Late stage is defined as regional or distant.†Numbers may not sum to total sample size because of missing data.‡By census tract or ZIP code of residence.The relationship between patient age and the odds of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis. Odds ratios are adjusted for age, race, marital status, education level, income level, smoking status, insurance type, comorbidity, and place of residence. The referent group is women younger than 40 years.Multivariate predictors of late-stage cervical cancer at diagnosis are presented in Table 3. Age, marital status, and insurance type were the only variables in multivariate analysis to be significantly associated with late-stage diagnosis. Each additional year of age was associated with a 3% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis. Being unmarried was associated with a 63% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis. The unmarried group included never married (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15-2.78; P=.01), divorced (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.11-2.79; P=.02), and widowed (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.77-2.11; P=.35). Having commercial HMO insurance was associated with a 46% decreased odds of late-stage diagnosis compared with commercial fee-for-service insurance. Compared with patients having any form of health insurance, those who were uninsured had greater odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; P=.02). Race, education level, income level, smoking status, comorbidity, and urban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis in multivariate analysis. In stratified analysis, there were racial differences between urban and nonurban settings. There was a significant decreased odds of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis among nonwhites in the nonurban setting (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.90; P=.02). In the urban setting, there was a trend toward increased late-stage diagnosis among nonwhites that was not statistically significant (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.73-2.02; P=.45). We examined 2-way interactions between insurance status and other demographic variables. Only one interaction was statistically significant, that between marital status and preferred provider organization insurance type (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10-0.75; P=.01). Being married reduced the odds of late-stage cervical cancer to a much greater extent among women having preferred provider organization insurance compared with women having fee-for-service insurance. The effects of marital status were the same for whites (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41-0.88; P=.009) and nonwhites (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.35-1.30; P=.24).Table 3. Multivariate Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer Diagnosis (N=730)*Predictor VariableOdds Ratio (95% CI)†PAge at diagnosis‡1.03 (1.02-1.05)<.001Mean education level‡0.90 (0.67-1.23).51Mean income level‡0.99 (0.77-1.28).94Marital statusCurrently married§1.00Unmarried1.63 (1.18-2.25).003Insurance payerCommercial indemnity§1.00Medicare0.77 (0.42-1.39).38Medicaid1.20 (0.65-2.23).56Commercial health maintenance organization0.54 (0.30-0.96).04Commercial preferred provider organization1.15 (0.65-2.01).63Uninsured1.49 (0.88-2.50).14Other1.47 (0.67-3.21).34RaceWhite§1.00Nonwhite0.88 (0.60-1.29).51Smoking statusNonsmoker§1.00Smoker1.30 (0.91-1.85).15Comorbid conditions0.90 (0.58-1.37).61ResidenceNonurban§1.00Urban1.09 (0.80-1.50).58*CI indicates confidence interval.†Odds ratios for late-stage diagnosis (regional and distant) adjusted for age, education level, income level, marital status, insurance payer, race, smoking status, comorbidity, and residence using multiple logistic regression.‡Odds ratios represent changes in odds of late-stage diagnosis per year of increasing age or per unit of increase in education or income level. §Indicates referent group.COMMENTAmong women diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer in Florida in 1994, more than 45% were diagnosed at a late stage. We found that increasing age, unmarried status, and being uninsured were independent risk factors for late-stage disease. Patients who had commercial HMO insurance were less likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer. There was a trend toward increased late-stage diagnosis among smokers who had cervical cancer that did not reach statistical significance. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, race, education, income level, comorbidity, and nonurban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.Results of our study support those of other studies that have found the elderly to be more likely to have late-stage invasive cervical cancer. This differs from breast cancer, in which younger age is associated with late-stage disease.Distinct from other studies, ours controlled for race, education level, income level, comorbidity, marital status, smoking status, and residence in an urban or nonurban area. The relationship between age and stage at diagnosis appeared linear, with increasing age being associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis. Women older than 65 years seem to be at highest risk of being diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer. About 25% of invasive cervical cancers occur in women older than 65 years, yet this population accounts for more than 40% of the deaths.Several studieshave shown that women older than 65 years are more likely to have never had a Pap test or to have not had one for several years. In addition, many elderly women who are diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer have never had a Pap smear until diagnosis, yet 68% report having seen a physician in the preceding 3 years.Older women also tend to believe that they are less vulnerable to cervical cancer and that Pap tests are not worthwhile.In our study, even women in their 40s and 50s had increased odds of late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer. It might be that as women age past their reproductive years and no longer need birth control or obstetric care, they may tend to see obstetrician-gynecologists and family physicians less often for pelvic examinations and Pap smears.The US Preventive Services Task Forcerecommends Pap smears at least every 3 years for all women with a cervix who are or have been sexually active. Consideration can be made for discontinuation of testing after age 65 years if there was previous regular screening with consistently normal results. The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists do not specify an upper age limit for Pap testing.The American College of Physicians recommends screening women 66 to 75 years of age every 3 years if they have not been screened within the 10 years before age 66 years.Some physicians may discontinue testing in patients older than 65 years without ensuring that there was previous regular screening. Costs of obtaining a Pap smear may be another barrier to testing for elderly women. However, it has been shown that cervical cancer screening in the elderly is cost-effective. Screening women older than 65 years every 3 years can reduce mortality from cervical cancer among the elderly by 74% at a cost of $2254 per year of life saved.Despite Medicare's reimbursing for Pap smears since 1990, the percentage of women undergoing Pap smear screening remained basically the same in 1987 and 1992.Physicians need to adhere to current guidelines and continue to screen women older than 65 years, especially if the women have not had regular screening with normal results.This study also found that among women diagnosed as having cervical cancer, those who were unmarried were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease compared with those who were married. Goodwin et alfound similar results in a New Mexico population that included Hispanics and whites only. Their study could not be generalized to the black population. In studies by Nayeri et aland Mandelblatt et althat took place in metropolitan Brooklyn and New York City, respectively, and included data on blacks, unmarried persons were not at greater risk of diagnosis at a late stage for cervical cancer. Our study population included 69% whites and 31% nonwhites from the entire state of Florida. The effects of marital status did not seem to differ between whites and nonwhites. Married persons might enjoy more social and economic advantages and have better access to the health care system. The studies by Goodwinand Nayeriand their coworkers did not control for socioeconomic status or health insurance. In our study, after controlling for race, education, income level, type of health insurance, and comorbidity, marital status was still associated with stage at diagnosis. Unmarried women are less likely to ever have a Pap smear or have Pap smears in the past 3 years.Unmarried women might not be currently sexually active and therefore less inclined to seek gynecologic care. The unmarried group also includes homosexual women who may mistakenly see themselves at lower risk for cervical cancer and not get routine Pap smears. Perhaps, married women receive more Pap smears because of greater contact with obstetrician-gynecologists during their childbearing years. After controlling for age, however, married women were still less likely to have late-stage cervical cancer. Married people have similarly been found to have earlier stages at diagnosis of breast,colon,and prostatecancers. Married people might have better health habits and seek medical care sooner after the occurrence of symptoms of cervical cancer because of support and encouragement by their spouses.Women who were uninsured were more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer, whereas those who were enrolled in commercial HMOs were less likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer. Women insured by HMOs have the highest rate of Pap smear screening.On the other hand, women who are uninsured get fewer Pap smears than those who have insurance.Uninsured persons are also more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast, colon, and prostate cancers.There was a trend for smokers with cervical cancer to be diagnosed as having more late-stage disease; however, it was not statistically significant given our sample size (only 250 patients were smokers). We also did not control for the amount or length of time a woman had smoked. Smoking has been associated with late-stage diagnosis of breastand prostatecancer. Further research is needed to determine whether smoking is an independent risk factor for stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.In contrast to results of other studies,race and socioeconomic status were not found to be associated with late-stage cervical cancer in our study. Education and income were related to late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer in bivariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis, suggesting that they had no effect independent of the other variables in our model. Studies by Mandelblatt et aland Mitchell and McCormackincluded only metropolitan areas. Our study included urban and nonurban areas. In addition, our study controlled for comorbidity and insurance status. Outreach programs in Florida that have been targeted to minority women with low education and income and living in rural areas may have been successful in increasing Pap smear screening in this population.Nonwhite race and low socioeconomic status have been associated with late-stage diagnosis of breastand prostatecancer but not colon cancer.We hypothesized that women with comorbid conditions would be more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer because they are less likely to get Pap smears. In a recent study,each unit increase in comorbidity decreased Pap smear screening by 20%. In our study, comorbidity was not associated with late stage; however, 91% of the study population had no comorbid conditions. Further research is needed to determine whether comorbidity is an independent risk factor for stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.This study has several potential limitations. First, we relied solely on administrative data, the accuracy of which could not be independently verified. There are inherent limitations in using data from a state tumor registry. Most cases of cancer are reported to the tumor registry from hospitals. Patients who are never hospitalized may not be reported to the tumor registry. This should be less of a problem for invasive cervical cancer, which usually requires hospital services of some sort (surgery or radiation therapy). We were not able to assess earlier stages of cervical cancer, such as in situ, because those cases are not reportable to the tumor registry. The degree of detail in administrative data is also limited (eg, no differentiation between types of HMOs, cancer staging system not as complete as the TNM system, and incomplete list of comorbid conditions in discharge abstracts).In addition, we relied on census-derived measures of socioeconomic status, which will not accurately reflect some patients' individual education or income.However, the use of census-derived measures of socioeconomic status has been validated in other studies. Associations between socioeconomic status and health outcomes have been similar when socioeconomic status is measured at the individual or community level.Some researchersalso argued that the socioeconomic level of a neighborhood is itself an important determinant of health. Our study was restricted to incident cases in Florida (having a higher proportion of elderly retired persons), so our findings might not be generalizable to other parts of the country. Finally, our study did not examine use of Pap smear screening in these women.The results of this study suggest that elderly, unmarried, and uninsured women with cervical cancer are more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage disease. Increasing Pap smear screening in these women is paramount to decreasing mortality from cervical cancer. Absence of a history of Pap smear is an independent risk factor for late stage at presentation of cervical cancer.Women with regional or distant invasive disease are least likely to have had Pap tests.It has been shown that a physician's recommendation for screening can strongly influence patient behavior.Because elderly women are less likely than younger women to receive care from obstetrician-gynecologists,there is a need for family practice and general internal medicine physicians to recommend and perform Pap tests regularly in women older than 65 years. 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Downs Blvd, MDC 13, Tampa, FL 33612. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Family Medicine American Medical Association

Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer

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Abstract

BackgroundDespite increasingly widespread use of the Papanicolaou smear, almost half of all women with invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed at a late stage (regional or distant). Little is known about factors associated with late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer.ObjectiveTo examine the relationship of age, race, education level, income level, smoking, marital status, health insurance type, comorbidity, and residence in an urban or rural setting to late stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.MethodsIncident cases of invasive cervical cancer occurring in 1994 in Florida were identified from the state tumor registry (N=852). Cases were linked with state discharge abstracts and the 1990 US census. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between predictor variables (age, race or ethnicity, marital status, smoking status, education level, income level, insurance type, comorbidity, and urban vs rural residence) and the odds of late-stage diagnosis.ResultsAge, marital status, and insurance type were associated with late-stage diagnosis. Each additional year of age was associated with a 3% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (odds ratio [OR&rsqb;, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI&rsqb;, 1.02-1.05; P<.001). Being unmarried was associated with a 63% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.18-2.25; P=.003). Being uninsured was associated with a 60% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; P=.02). Having commercial health maintenance organization insurance was associated with a 46% decreased odds of late-stage disease (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.96; P=.04). Race, education level, income level, smoking status, comorbidity, and urban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis.ConclusionsWomen with cervical cancer who are elderly, unmarried, and uninsured are more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage. These women should be targeted for cervical cancer education and screening programs.IN 1998 THERE were 13,700 estimated cases of invasive cervical cancer and 4900 deaths from cervical cancer in the United States.Stage at diagnosis is the most important prognostic determinant for invasive cervical cancer. Five-year survival is more than 90% for patients diagnosed as having localized disease, less than 50% for those with regional spread, and only 8% for those with distant disease.It is widely accepted that Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening reduces the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer by detecting the cancer at an early or precancerous stage. Even with increasingly widespread use of the Pap test, almost half of all women with invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed as having disease at a late stage (regional or distant).More must be learned about factors affecting stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer to improve early detection of this potentially preventable and curable cancer.The following factors have been shown in previous studies to be associated with later stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer: older age,black race or Hispanic ethnicity,and low education and income levels.These studies, however, did not control for confounding factors such as insurance type, comorbidity, or place of residence. Little is known about other possible predictors of late-stage diagnosis, such as a patient's smoking status, marital status, health insurance type, comorbidity, or residence in an urban or rural setting. Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer and seems to have a promotional effect that might lead to a later stage at diagnosis.Smoking is also an independent risk factor for mortality within 5 years of presentation of cervical cancer.Unmarried women were more likely to be diagnosed as having advanced cervical cancer in one study,but not in others.Among Medicare patients with cervical cancer, those enrolled in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are less likely than fee-for-service enrollees to be diagnosed at a late stage.To our knowledge, no studies have examined the relationship of smoking, other health insurance types, comorbidity, or residence in an urban or rural setting to late stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer. By identifying predictors of late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer, health education campaigns and interventions can be targeted toward certain populations. In addition, we can determine whether a specific form of health insurance defines a population at risk for late-stage cervical cancer.This study used administrative data from Florida to determine clinical and demographic factors associated with stage at diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer. Our study controlled for age, race, education level, income level, smoking status, marital status, health insurance type, comorbid conditions, and residence in an urban or rural setting. We hypothesized that the following factors would be associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis: older age, nonwhite race, lower socioeconomic status, smoking, being unmarried, being uninsured, having other comorbid medical conditions, and living in a nonurban area.MATERIALS AND METHODSDATA SOURCESWe studied incident cases of invasive cervical cancer occurring in Florida during 1994 for which stage at diagnosis was available (N=852). Data from 1994 were used because this was the most recent year for which all relevant data were available. Incident cases were identified from the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS), Florida's population-based statewide cancer registry. The FCDS was created in 1978 and has been collecting data on cancer incidence since 1981. The FCDS has well-established methods to ensure complete case finding, including cooperative arrangements with other state tumor registries, linkage with other databases, and ad hoc audits of reporting facilities. The development of cervical cancer proceeds along a continuum from precancerous stages (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) to in situ cancers to frank invasive lesions. Invasive lesions are categorized by the FCDS as local (confined to the organ of origin), regional (cancers that have spread to regional lymph nodes or by direct extension beyond the organ of origin), and metastatic (lesions that have metastasized to distant sites). We had access to invasive lesions only because these are the only cancers reportable to the FCDS. In situ cervical cancers are not reportable to the FCDS and were therefore not included in our analysis.The FCDS was the source for measures such as smoking status, marital status, age, race, and address of residence. To include information that is not routinely available from the FCDS (insurance payer, comorbidity, and socioeconomic status), cases were linked with state discharge abstracts and the 1990 US census. We obtained insurance payer and comorbidity information using state discharge abstracts. Comorbidity was determined using methods described by Charlsonand Deyoand colleagues. The Charlson comorbidity index is not an exhaustive list of all possible comorbid conditions, but is rather a weighted index of 19 selected categories of disease that were found to be associated with mortality and other important health outcomes. Increasing scores on the Charlson comorbidity index reflect an increasing burden of comorbid conditions. We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, mapping of comorbid conditions as described by Deyo et al.Cancer-related conditions were excluded. We used the original weights described by Charlson in calculating a morbidity index (theoretical range, 0-23). We defined 3 categories of comorbidity (0, 1, and ≥2) based on the patient's index score. Administrative data have generally proven accurate and valid in studies of cancer care.The 1990 US census was used to obtain aggregate measures of socioeconomic status. The FCDS provides the street address and ZIP code for each patient's residence. For 90% of patients, we were able to obtain the census tract of residence by geocoding their street address. For the remaining 10%, we used their ZIP code. Each individual was assigned the median income and education levels of the census tract (90% of patients) or ZIP code (10% of patients) of their residence. The use of census-derived measures of socioeconomic status has been validated in previous studies.This study was approved by the institutional review board of the University of South Florida, Tampa.DATA ANALYSISThe main outcome variable, stage at diagnosis, was defined using the SEER Site-Specific Summary Staging Guide.Stage at diagnosis is based on a combination of pathological, operative, and clinical assessments available within 2 months of diagnosis. For these analyses, stage at diagnosis was reclassified as either early (local) or late (regional and distant).Variables assessed as possible predictors of late-stage diagnosis included age, race, marital status, current smoking status, median education level, median income level, comorbidity, urban residence, and insurance type. The relationship between predictor variables and likelihood of late-stage diagnosis was first assessed using the χ2test or Wilcoxon rank sum test as appropriate. The multivariate relationship between predictor variables and the odds of late-stage diagnosis were then examined using multiple logistic regression. Indicator variables were created for race (white and nonwhite), insurance type (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial HMO, commercial preferred provider organization, commercial indemnity, other insurance, and uninsured), smoking status (smoker and nonsmoker), marital status (married and nonmarried), comorbidity, and residence (urban and nonurban). We did not have sufficient sample size and statistical power to examine categories of nonwhite race. Commercial HMO insurance is defined by the FCDS as all HMO insurance plans other than HMOs provided by Medicare or Medicaid.The statistical significance of individual indicator variables was assessed using the χ2likelihood ratio test.To avoid forcing linear relationships with quantitative variables such as age, indicator variables were also created according to age categories.Relationships were then examined by graphing the corresponding odds ratios (ORs) for age categories.Linear relationships between age and the odds of late-stage diagnosis were subsequently tested in logistic models using the χ2likelihood ratio test.Adjusted ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. All reported Pvalues are 2 tailed. Statistical significance was set at α=.05.RESULTSThe overall age-adjusted incidence rate of cervical cancer in Florida in 1994 was 10.5 cases per 100,000 population. The age-adjusted rate of late-stage cervical cancer was 4.84 cases per 100,000 population. Table 1describes the characteristics of women diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer in Florida in 1994. The mean (SD) age of patients having invasive cervical cancer was 52 (16) years (range, 21-96 years). There were notable numbers of patients who were nonwhite (including blacks and Hispanics), of low socioeconomic status, and uninsured. About 45% of patients with invasive cervical cancer had disease that had spread beyond the cervix.Table 1. Characteristics of Women Diagnosed as Having Invasive Cervical Cancer in Florida in 1994CharacteristicWomen, No. (%) (N=852)*Age, y<3042 (4.9)30-39187 (21.9)40-49205 (24.1)50-59157 (18.4)60-69128 (15.0)≥70133 (15.6)RaceWhite587 (68.9)Nonwhite†265 (31.1)Median household income, $‡<15,00073 (8.6)15,000-24,999277 (32.5)25,000-34,999368 (43.2)35,000-49,999105 (12.3)≥50,00021 (2.5)Median education level‡High school or less466 (54.7)More than high school378 (44.4)Marital statusCurrently married401 (47.1)Not married451 (52.9)Insurance payerCommercial indemnity125 (14.7)Medicare172 (20.1)Medicaid77 (9.0)Commercial health maintenance organization104 (12.2)Commercial preferred provider organization92 (10.8)Uninsured131 (15.4)Other§36 (4.2)Smoking statusCurrent smoker250 (29.3)Nonsmoker602 (70.7)Comorbid conditions0776 (91.1)166 (7.7)≥210 (1.2)ResidenceUrban464 (54.5)Nonurban388 (45.5)Stage of diseaseLocal466 (54.7)Regional298 (35.0)Distant88 (10.3)*Numbers may not sum to total sample size because of missing data.†Includes non-Hispanic black (n=138), Hispanic (n=113), and other (n=14).‡By census tract or ZIP code of residence. §Includes Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) (n=8), state and local government health insurance programs (n=15), and unspecified (n=13).In bivariate analysis, patients who were diagnosed at a late stage were older than those diagnosed at an early stage (55.2 vs 48.4 years; t=6.4; P<.001). Table 2presents the results of bivariate analysis. Greater likelihood of late-stage diagnosis was associated with being unmarried, having lower education and income levels, and having Medicare insurance or no insurance. Stage was not related to race, smoking, comorbidity, or place of residence. To examine the relationship between age and stage at diagnosis, ORs for age categories were graphed (Figure 1). The relationship appeared linear, with increasing age being associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis. Age was therefore modeled as a linear variable.Table 2. Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer Diagnosis*Predictor VariableWomen, No./Total (%) (N=852)†PRaceWhite262/587 (44.6).56Nonwhite124/265 (46.8)Marital statusMarried153/401 (38.2).001Not married233/451 (51.7)Education level‡Less than high school37/72 (51.4)High school graduate189/374 (50.0).02Some college134/324 (41.4)College graduate20/54 (37.0)Income level, $‡<15,00038/73 (52.0)15,000-24,999131/277 (47.3)25,000-34,999162/368 (44.0).0435,000-49,99942/105 (40.0)≥50,0007/21 (33.3)Insurance payerMedicare99/172 (57.6).001Medicaid36/77 (46.8)Commercial insurance52/125 (41.6)Commercial health maintenance organization29/104 (27.9)Commercial preferred provider organization41/92 (44.6)Uninsured72/131 (55.0)Other19/35 (54.3)Smoking statusCurrent smoker118/250 (47.2).47Nonsmoker268/602 (44.5)Comorbid conditions0348/776 (44.8)131/66 (47.0).22≥27/10 (70.0)ResidenceUrban220/464 (47.4).18Nonurban166/388 (42.8)*Late stage is defined as regional or distant.†Numbers may not sum to total sample size because of missing data.‡By census tract or ZIP code of residence.The relationship between patient age and the odds of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis. Odds ratios are adjusted for age, race, marital status, education level, income level, smoking status, insurance type, comorbidity, and place of residence. The referent group is women younger than 40 years.Multivariate predictors of late-stage cervical cancer at diagnosis are presented in Table 3. Age, marital status, and insurance type were the only variables in multivariate analysis to be significantly associated with late-stage diagnosis. Each additional year of age was associated with a 3% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis. Being unmarried was associated with a 63% increased odds of late-stage diagnosis. The unmarried group included never married (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.15-2.78; P=.01), divorced (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.11-2.79; P=.02), and widowed (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.77-2.11; P=.35). Having commercial HMO insurance was associated with a 46% decreased odds of late-stage diagnosis compared with commercial fee-for-service insurance. Compared with patients having any form of health insurance, those who were uninsured had greater odds of late-stage diagnosis (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.07-2.38; P=.02). Race, education level, income level, smoking status, comorbidity, and urban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis in multivariate analysis. In stratified analysis, there were racial differences between urban and nonurban settings. There was a significant decreased odds of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis among nonwhites in the nonurban setting (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.90; P=.02). In the urban setting, there was a trend toward increased late-stage diagnosis among nonwhites that was not statistically significant (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.73-2.02; P=.45). We examined 2-way interactions between insurance status and other demographic variables. Only one interaction was statistically significant, that between marital status and preferred provider organization insurance type (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.10-0.75; P=.01). Being married reduced the odds of late-stage cervical cancer to a much greater extent among women having preferred provider organization insurance compared with women having fee-for-service insurance. The effects of marital status were the same for whites (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41-0.88; P=.009) and nonwhites (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.35-1.30; P=.24).Table 3. Multivariate Predictors of Late-Stage Cervical Cancer Diagnosis (N=730)*Predictor VariableOdds Ratio (95% CI)†PAge at diagnosis‡1.03 (1.02-1.05)<.001Mean education level‡0.90 (0.67-1.23).51Mean income level‡0.99 (0.77-1.28).94Marital statusCurrently married§1.00Unmarried1.63 (1.18-2.25).003Insurance payerCommercial indemnity§1.00Medicare0.77 (0.42-1.39).38Medicaid1.20 (0.65-2.23).56Commercial health maintenance organization0.54 (0.30-0.96).04Commercial preferred provider organization1.15 (0.65-2.01).63Uninsured1.49 (0.88-2.50).14Other1.47 (0.67-3.21).34RaceWhite§1.00Nonwhite0.88 (0.60-1.29).51Smoking statusNonsmoker§1.00Smoker1.30 (0.91-1.85).15Comorbid conditions0.90 (0.58-1.37).61ResidenceNonurban§1.00Urban1.09 (0.80-1.50).58*CI indicates confidence interval.†Odds ratios for late-stage diagnosis (regional and distant) adjusted for age, education level, income level, marital status, insurance payer, race, smoking status, comorbidity, and residence using multiple logistic regression.‡Odds ratios represent changes in odds of late-stage diagnosis per year of increasing age or per unit of increase in education or income level. §Indicates referent group.COMMENTAmong women diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer in Florida in 1994, more than 45% were diagnosed at a late stage. We found that increasing age, unmarried status, and being uninsured were independent risk factors for late-stage disease. Patients who had commercial HMO insurance were less likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer. There was a trend toward increased late-stage diagnosis among smokers who had cervical cancer that did not reach statistical significance. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, race, education, income level, comorbidity, and nonurban residence were not associated with stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.Results of our study support those of other studies that have found the elderly to be more likely to have late-stage invasive cervical cancer. This differs from breast cancer, in which younger age is associated with late-stage disease.Distinct from other studies, ours controlled for race, education level, income level, comorbidity, marital status, smoking status, and residence in an urban or nonurban area. The relationship between age and stage at diagnosis appeared linear, with increasing age being associated with greater odds of late-stage diagnosis. Women older than 65 years seem to be at highest risk of being diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer. About 25% of invasive cervical cancers occur in women older than 65 years, yet this population accounts for more than 40% of the deaths.Several studieshave shown that women older than 65 years are more likely to have never had a Pap test or to have not had one for several years. In addition, many elderly women who are diagnosed as having invasive cervical cancer have never had a Pap smear until diagnosis, yet 68% report having seen a physician in the preceding 3 years.Older women also tend to believe that they are less vulnerable to cervical cancer and that Pap tests are not worthwhile.In our study, even women in their 40s and 50s had increased odds of late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer. It might be that as women age past their reproductive years and no longer need birth control or obstetric care, they may tend to see obstetrician-gynecologists and family physicians less often for pelvic examinations and Pap smears.The US Preventive Services Task Forcerecommends Pap smears at least every 3 years for all women with a cervix who are or have been sexually active. Consideration can be made for discontinuation of testing after age 65 years if there was previous regular screening with consistently normal results. The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Cancer Society, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists do not specify an upper age limit for Pap testing.The American College of Physicians recommends screening women 66 to 75 years of age every 3 years if they have not been screened within the 10 years before age 66 years.Some physicians may discontinue testing in patients older than 65 years without ensuring that there was previous regular screening. Costs of obtaining a Pap smear may be another barrier to testing for elderly women. However, it has been shown that cervical cancer screening in the elderly is cost-effective. Screening women older than 65 years every 3 years can reduce mortality from cervical cancer among the elderly by 74% at a cost of $2254 per year of life saved.Despite Medicare's reimbursing for Pap smears since 1990, the percentage of women undergoing Pap smear screening remained basically the same in 1987 and 1992.Physicians need to adhere to current guidelines and continue to screen women older than 65 years, especially if the women have not had regular screening with normal results.This study also found that among women diagnosed as having cervical cancer, those who were unmarried were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage disease compared with those who were married. Goodwin et alfound similar results in a New Mexico population that included Hispanics and whites only. Their study could not be generalized to the black population. In studies by Nayeri et aland Mandelblatt et althat took place in metropolitan Brooklyn and New York City, respectively, and included data on blacks, unmarried persons were not at greater risk of diagnosis at a late stage for cervical cancer. Our study population included 69% whites and 31% nonwhites from the entire state of Florida. The effects of marital status did not seem to differ between whites and nonwhites. Married persons might enjoy more social and economic advantages and have better access to the health care system. The studies by Goodwinand Nayeriand their coworkers did not control for socioeconomic status or health insurance. In our study, after controlling for race, education, income level, type of health insurance, and comorbidity, marital status was still associated with stage at diagnosis. Unmarried women are less likely to ever have a Pap smear or have Pap smears in the past 3 years.Unmarried women might not be currently sexually active and therefore less inclined to seek gynecologic care. The unmarried group also includes homosexual women who may mistakenly see themselves at lower risk for cervical cancer and not get routine Pap smears. Perhaps, married women receive more Pap smears because of greater contact with obstetrician-gynecologists during their childbearing years. After controlling for age, however, married women were still less likely to have late-stage cervical cancer. Married people have similarly been found to have earlier stages at diagnosis of breast,colon,and prostatecancers. Married people might have better health habits and seek medical care sooner after the occurrence of symptoms of cervical cancer because of support and encouragement by their spouses.Women who were uninsured were more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer, whereas those who were enrolled in commercial HMOs were less likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer. Women insured by HMOs have the highest rate of Pap smear screening.On the other hand, women who are uninsured get fewer Pap smears than those who have insurance.Uninsured persons are also more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast, colon, and prostate cancers.There was a trend for smokers with cervical cancer to be diagnosed as having more late-stage disease; however, it was not statistically significant given our sample size (only 250 patients were smokers). We also did not control for the amount or length of time a woman had smoked. Smoking has been associated with late-stage diagnosis of breastand prostatecancer. Further research is needed to determine whether smoking is an independent risk factor for stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.In contrast to results of other studies,race and socioeconomic status were not found to be associated with late-stage cervical cancer in our study. Education and income were related to late-stage diagnosis of cervical cancer in bivariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis, suggesting that they had no effect independent of the other variables in our model. Studies by Mandelblatt et aland Mitchell and McCormackincluded only metropolitan areas. Our study included urban and nonurban areas. In addition, our study controlled for comorbidity and insurance status. Outreach programs in Florida that have been targeted to minority women with low education and income and living in rural areas may have been successful in increasing Pap smear screening in this population.Nonwhite race and low socioeconomic status have been associated with late-stage diagnosis of breastand prostatecancer but not colon cancer.We hypothesized that women with comorbid conditions would be more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage cervical cancer because they are less likely to get Pap smears. In a recent study,each unit increase in comorbidity decreased Pap smear screening by 20%. In our study, comorbidity was not associated with late stage; however, 91% of the study population had no comorbid conditions. Further research is needed to determine whether comorbidity is an independent risk factor for stage at diagnosis of cervical cancer.This study has several potential limitations. First, we relied solely on administrative data, the accuracy of which could not be independently verified. There are inherent limitations in using data from a state tumor registry. Most cases of cancer are reported to the tumor registry from hospitals. Patients who are never hospitalized may not be reported to the tumor registry. This should be less of a problem for invasive cervical cancer, which usually requires hospital services of some sort (surgery or radiation therapy). We were not able to assess earlier stages of cervical cancer, such as in situ, because those cases are not reportable to the tumor registry. The degree of detail in administrative data is also limited (eg, no differentiation between types of HMOs, cancer staging system not as complete as the TNM system, and incomplete list of comorbid conditions in discharge abstracts).In addition, we relied on census-derived measures of socioeconomic status, which will not accurately reflect some patients' individual education or income.However, the use of census-derived measures of socioeconomic status has been validated in other studies. Associations between socioeconomic status and health outcomes have been similar when socioeconomic status is measured at the individual or community level.Some researchersalso argued that the socioeconomic level of a neighborhood is itself an important determinant of health. Our study was restricted to incident cases in Florida (having a higher proportion of elderly retired persons), so our findings might not be generalizable to other parts of the country. Finally, our study did not examine use of Pap smear screening in these women.The results of this study suggest that elderly, unmarried, and uninsured women with cervical cancer are more likely to be diagnosed as having late-stage disease. Increasing Pap smear screening in these women is paramount to decreasing mortality from cervical cancer. Absence of a history of Pap smear is an independent risk factor for late stage at presentation of cervical cancer.Women with regional or distant invasive disease are least likely to have had Pap tests.It has been shown that a physician's recommendation for screening can strongly influence patient behavior.Because elderly women are less likely than younger women to receive care from obstetrician-gynecologists,there is a need for family practice and general internal medicine physicians to recommend and perform Pap tests regularly in women older than 65 years. 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Downs Blvd, MDC 13, Tampa, FL 33612.

Journal

Archives of Family Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: May 1, 2000

References

  • Cancer statistics, 1998.
    Landis, S; Murray, T; Bolden, S; Wingo, P
  • SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1973-1992:Tables and Graphs.
    Kosary, C; Ries, L; Miller, B; Hankey, B; Harras, A; Edwards, B
  • Stage at diagnosis of cancer varies with the age of the patient.
    Goodwin, J; Samet, J; Key, C; Humble, C; Kutvir, D; Hunt, C