Press Releases
ASCO Quality Care Symposium Abstract #85 (Poster Board #B9)
(Is Federal Housing Assistance Associated with Earlier-Stage Cancer Diagnosis? Evidence from the New SEER-Medicare and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Data Linkage)
ATLANTA, September 23, 2024 — A new study by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows federal housing assistance is associated with earlier-stage breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis, highlighting its potential role in mitigating the adverse effects of housing insecurity on cancer outcomes. The findings will be presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium in San Francisco, September 27-28, 2024.
In the study, led by Dr. Robin Yabroff, scientific vice president, health services research at the American Cancer Society, researchers used novel SEER-Medicare Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administrative data from individuals aged 66-95 years newly diagnosed with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 2006-2019. After identifying individuals with housing assistance at diagnosis, controls without housing assistance at diagnosis were propensity score matched in a 3:1 ratio by cancer site, age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, registry, year of diagnosis, area-level Yost socioeconomic status index, dual Medicaid eligibility, rural/urban residence, and reason for Medicare entitlement. Associations of housing assistance and diagnosis stage (SEER summary stage: localized, regional, or distant) were examined with separate multinomial regression models by cancer type.
Researchers identified a total of 15,496 individuals with breast cancer, 9,346 with colorectal cancer, 12,647 with NSCLC, and 8,216 with prostate cancer who received housing assistance at diagnosis. Compared to matched controls, individuals with housing assistance were less likely to be diagnosed with regional or distant vs. localized breast cancer (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.86; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.80-0.92 and OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.80- 0.88, respectively) and regional or distant vs. localized NSCL cancer (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.99 and OR:0.82; 95% CI: 0.78-0.85, respectively). Compared to matched controls, individuals with housing assistance were less likely to be diagnosed with distant colorectal cancer (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.81-0.97).
Study findings suggest that federal housing assistance may help mitigate the adverse effects of housing insecurity on early diagnoses with cancer; more research is needed to evaluate the association of housing assistance and receipt of guideline-concordant cancer treatment.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.