Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Affluence and Private Health Insurance Influence Treatment and Survival in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Linda Sharp

Downloads


Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate inequalities in survival for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), distinguishing between direct and indirect effects of patient, social and process-of care factors.MethodsAll cases of NHL diagnosed in Ireland in 2004-2008 were included. Variables describing patient, cancer, stage and process of care were included in a discrete-time model of survival using Structural Equation Modelling software.ResultsEmergency admissions were more common in patients with co-morbid conditions or with more aggressive cancers, and less frequent for patients from more affluent areas. Aggressive morphology, female sex, emergency admission, increasing age, comorbidity, treatment in a high caseload hospital and late stage were associated with increased hazard of mortality. Private patients had a reduced hazard of mortality, mediated by systemic therapy, admission to high caseload hospitals and fewer emergency admissions.DiscussionThe higher rate of emergency presentation, and consequent poorer survival, of uninsured patients, suggests they face barriers to early presentation. Social, educational and cultural factors may also discourage disadvantaged patients from consulting with early symptoms of NHL. Non-insured patients, who present later and have more emergency admissions would benefit from better access to diagnostic services. Older patients remain disadvantaged by sub-optimal treatment, treatment in non-specialist centres and emergency admission.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Comber H, Cancela MD, Haase T, Johnson H, Sharp L, Pratschke J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: PLoS ONE

Year: 2016

Volume: 11

Issue: 12

Print publication date: 01/01/2016

Online publication date: 19/12/2016

Acceptance date: 05/12/2016

Date deposited: 29/03/2017

ISSN (electronic): 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168684

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168684


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
H1COM12

Share