Is cancer history associated with asset ownership, debt, and net worth in the United States?

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18085-e18085
Author(s):  
Maryam Doroudi ◽  
Diarmuid Coughlan ◽  
Matthew P. Banegas ◽  
K Robin Yabroff

e18085 Background: Financial hardships experienced by cancer survivors in the United States have become significant social and public health issues. Few studies have assessed the underlying financial holdings, including ownership and values of assets and debts, of individuals following a cancer diagnosis. This study assessed the association between a cancer history and asset ownership, debt, and net worth. Methods: We identified 1,603 cancer survivors and 34,915 individuals without a history of cancer aged 18-64 from the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component and Asset sections (years 2008-2011). Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic characteristics, cancer history, asset ownership, debt, and net worth by cancer history. Regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between cancer history and net worth, stratified by age group (18-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years) to reflect stages of the life-course. Results: Asset ownership was least common for cancer survivors and individuals without a cancer history in the 18-34 age group and most common in the 55-64 age group. Cancers survivors aged 45-54 had a lower proportion of home ownership than individuals without a cancer history (59% vs 67%; p = 0.001). Nearly 20% of all respondents reported at least some debt. The proportion of cancer survivors with debt was higher than individuals without a history of cancer, especially in the 18-34 age group (41% vs 27%; p < 0.001), although it did not vary by age group. When asset and debt values were combined to assess net worth, cancer survivors aged 45-54 were significantly more likely to have a negative net worth and significantly less likely to have a positive net worth than those individuals without a history of cancer in fully adjusted models. Findings on net worth were similar in the 18-34 age group, although only statistically significant in unadjusted and partially adjusted models. Conclusions: We found that cancer history is associated with asset ownership, debt, and net worth, especially in those aged 45-54 years. Longitudinal studies to assess patterns of financial holdings throughout the cancer experience are warranted.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Doroudi ◽  
Diarmuid Coughlan ◽  
Matthew P Banegas ◽  
Xuesong Han ◽  
K Robin Yabroff

Abstract Background Financial hardships experienced by cancer survivors have become a prominent public health issue in the United States. Few studies of financial hardship have assessed financial holdings, including assets, debts, and their values, associated with a cancer history. Methods Using the 2008–2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we identified 1603 cancer survivors and 34 915 individuals age 18–64 years without a cancer history to assess associations between self-reported cancer history and assets, debts, and net worth. Distributions of self-reported asset and debt ownership, their values, and net worth were compared for adults with and without a cancer history with chi-square statistics. Multivariable ordered probit regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between cancer history and net worth using a two-sided Wald test. All analyses were stratified by age group (18–34, 35–44, 45–54, and 55–64 years). Statistical tests were two-sided. Results Among those age 45–54 years, cancer survivors had a lower proportion of home ownership than individuals without a cancer history (59.0% vs 67.1%, P = .0014) and were statistically significantly more likely to have negative net worth (≤–$3000) and less likely to have positive net worth (≥$3000). Cancer survivors were more likely to have debt than individuals without a cancer history, especially among those age 18–34 years (41.3% vs 27.1%, P < .001). Conclusions Cancer history is associated with lower asset ownership, more debt, and lower net worth, especially in survivors age 45–54 years. Longitudinal studies of financial holdings will be important to inform development of interventions to reduce financial hardship.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (30) ◽  
pp. 3749-3757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gery P. Guy ◽  
Donatus U. Ekwueme ◽  
K. Robin Yabroff ◽  
Emily C. Dowling ◽  
Chunyu Li ◽  
...  

Purpose To present nationally representative estimates of the impact of cancer survivorship on medical expenditures and lost productivity among adults in the United States. Methods Using the 2008 to 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we identified 4,960 cancer survivors and 64,431 individuals without a history of cancer age ≥ 18 years. Direct medical costs were measured using annual health care expenditures and examined by source of payment and service type. Indirect morbidity costs were estimated from lost productivity as a result of employment disability, missed work days, and lost household productivity. We evaluated the economic burden of cancer survivorship by estimating excess costs among cancer survivors, stratified by time since diagnosis (recently diagnosed [≤ 1 year] and previously diagnosed [> 1 year]), compared with individuals without a history of cancer using multivariable regression models stratified by age (18 to 64 and ≥ 65 years), controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and comorbidities. Results In 2008 to 2010, the annual excess economic burden of cancer survivorship among recently diagnosed cancer survivors was $16,213 per survivor age 18 to 64 years and $16,441 per survivor age ≥ 65 years. Among previously diagnosed cancer survivors, the annual excess burden was $4,427 per survivor age 18 to 64 years and $4,519 per survivor age ≥ 65 years. Excess medical expenditures composed the largest share of the economic burden among cancer survivors, particularly among those recently diagnosed. Conclusion The economic impact of cancer survivorship is considerable and is also high years after a cancer diagnosis. Efforts to reduce the economic burden caused by cancer will be increasingly important given the growing population of cancer survivors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki A. Hawkins ◽  
Ashwini Soman ◽  
Natasha Buchanan Lunsford ◽  
Steven Leadbetter ◽  
Juan L. Rodriguez

Purpose This study used population-based data to estimate the percentage of cancer survivors in the United States reporting current medication use for anxiety and depression and to characterize the survivors taking this type of medication. Rates of medication use in cancer survivors were compared with rates in the general population. Methods We analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey, years 2010 to 2013, identifying cancer survivors (n = 3,184) and adults with no history of cancer (n = 44,997) who completed both the Sample Adult Core Questionnaire and the Adult Functioning and Disability Supplement. Results Compared with adults with no history of cancer, cancer survivors were significantly more likely to report taking medication for anxiety (16.8% v 8.6%, P < .001), depression (14.1% v 7.8%, P < .001), and one or both of these conditions combined (19.1% v 10.4%, P < .001), indicating that an estimated 2.5 million cancer survivors were taking medication for anxiety or depression in the United States at that time. Survivor characteristics associated with higher rates of medication use for anxiety included being younger than 65 years old, female, and non-Hispanic white, and having public insurance, a usual source of medical care, and multiple chronic health conditions. Survivor characteristics associated with medication use for depression were largely consistent with those for anxiety, with the exceptions that insurance status was not significant, whereas being widowed/divorced/separated was associated with more use. Conclusion Cancer survivors in the United States reported medication use for anxiety and depression at rates nearly two times those reported by the general public, likely a reflection of greater emotional and physical burdens from cancer or its treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 107327482110591
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Findley ◽  
R. Constance Wiener ◽  
Chan Shen ◽  
Nilajana Dwibedi ◽  
Usha Sambamoorthi

The objective of this research was to determine if the engagement/participation in health promotion activities of cancer survivors in the United States (US) changed between 2006 and 2015. We pooled two independent cross-sectional data of cancer survivors using Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys from 2006 (N = 791; weighted N = 9,532,674) and 2015 (N = 1067; weighted N = 15,744,959). Health promoting activities consisted of past year influenza immunization, routine physical examination, and dental visit. Self-care included maintaining normal weight, not smoking, and engagement in recommended vigorous physical activity. We conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses to examine the change in engagement in health promoting activities over time. We found rates of annual influenza immunization (66.8% vs 70.3%), dental visit (71.8% vs 70.3%), and normal weight (33.9% vs 33.5%) did not change from 2006 to 2015. The percent with physical examination (90.8% vs 93.8%; P = .03) and non-smokers increased (87.9% vs 91.2; P = .04). Between 2006 and 2015, despite guidelines and recommendations for personalized cancer survivorship health plans, health promoting activities among cancer survivors did not change significantly.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S649-S650
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Pasquini ◽  
Brent J Small ◽  
Jacqueline Mogle ◽  
Martin Sliwinski ◽  
Stacey B Scott

Abstract Breast cancer survivors may experience accelerated decline in cognitive functioning compared to same-aged peers with no cancer history (Small et al., 2015). Survivors may show important differences in mean-level performance or variability in cognitive functioning compared to those without a history of cancer (Yao et al., 2016). This study compared ambulatory cognitive functioning in a sample of breast cancer survivors and an age-matched community sample without a history of cancer (n_cancer=47, n_non-cancer=105, age range: 40-64 years, M=52.13 years). Participants completed three cognitive tasks measuring working memory, executive functioning, and processing speed up to five times per day for 14 days. Results indicated no mean-level differences in cognitive performance on the three tasks between cancer survivors and those without cancer history (p’s&gt;.05). Unexpectedly, women without cancer history showed more variability than survivors on working memory but not on the other two tasks. Across both groups, those without a college education performed worse on executive functioning (B=-0.05, SE=0.03, p&lt;.05) and working memory (B=0.94, SE=0.36, p&lt;.05) compared to those that completed college. Additionally, older age was associated with slower processing speed (B=31.67, SE=7.44, p&lt;.001). In sum, this study did not find mean-level group differences in cognitive functioning between cancer survivors and age-matched women without a history of cancer. Contrary to hypotheses, those without a history of cancer were more variable on working memory. Results suggested similarities in cognitive functioning in the two samples and that education and age are important predictors of cognitive functioning independent of cancer history.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (18) ◽  
pp. 2053-2061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gery P. Guy ◽  
K. Robin Yabroff ◽  
Donatus U. Ekwueme ◽  
Sun Hee Rim ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
...  

Purpose The prevalence of cancer survivorship and chronic health conditions is increasing. Limited information exists on the economic burden of chronic conditions among survivors of cancer. This study examines the prevalence and economic effect of chronic conditions among survivors of cancer. Methods Using the 2008 to 2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we present nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of chronic conditions (heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, emphysema, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, and asthma) and multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and the incremental annual health care use, medical expenditures, and lost productivity for survivors of cancer attributed to individual chronic conditions and MCCs. Incremental use, expenditures, and lost productivity were evaluated with multivariable regression. Results Survivors of cancer were more likely to have chronic conditions and MCCs compared with adults without a history of cancer. The presence of chronic conditions among survivors of cancer was associated with substantially higher annual medical expenditures, especially for heart disease ($4,595; 95% CI, $3,262 to $5,927) and stroke ($3,843; 95% CI, $1,983 to $5,704). The presence of four or more chronic conditions was associated with increased annual expenditures of $10,280 (95% CI, $7,435 to $13,125) per survivor of cancer. Annual lost productivity was higher among survivors of cancer with other chronic conditions, especially stroke ($4,325; 95% CI, $2,687 to $5,964), and arthritis ($3,534; 95% CI, $2,475 to $4,593). Having four or more chronic conditions was associated with increased annual lost productivity of $9,099 (95% CI, $7,224 to $10,973) per survivor of cancer. The economic impact of chronic conditions was similar among survivors of cancer and individuals without a history of cancer. Conclusion These results highlight the importance of ensuring access to lifelong personalized screening, surveillance, and chronic disease management to help manage chronic conditions, reduce disruptions in employment, and reduce medical expenditures among survivors of cancer.


1995 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
John V. Conti

Job discrimination against persons with a history of cancer is common and is found at all skill levels and throughout all fields of employment. Irrational fears, lack of current information, and distortions in perception prevent counselors, and society in general, from viewing the work potential of persons with a cancer history objectively. Due to significant improvements in the treatment of some forms of cancer, there is a large new group of young cancer survivors in need of guidance and advocacy to enter or re-enter the job market. Legal protections are in place but largely unused by cancer survivors. Suggestions are offeredfor increasing individual and systemic advocacy for this population, and some recommendations for future effort are made.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Ottenbacher ◽  
Mandi Yu ◽  
Richard P. Moser ◽  
Siobhan M. Phillips ◽  
Catherine Alfano ◽  
...  

Background:Evidence is building that strength training may reduce complications associated with cancer such as fatigue, muscle wasting, and lymphedema, particularly among breast and prostate cancer survivors. Population estimates are available for rates of aerobic physical activity; however, data on strength training in this population are limited. The objective of this study was to identify rates of meeting public health recommendations for strength training and aerobic activity among cancer survivors and individuals with no cancer history.Methods:Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), Iteration 4 Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 were combined to conduct the analyses. Missing data were imputed, and weighted statistical analyses were conducted in SAS.Results:The proportion of individuals meeting both strength training and aerobic guidelines were low for both cancer survivors and those without a history of cancer. The odds of meeting strength training guidelines were significantly lower for women with a history of any cancer except breast, compared with women with no history of cancer (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51−0.96).Conclusions:More work needs to be done to understand why women with cancers other than breast, may be less inclined to engage in aerobic physical activity and strength training.


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