# Availability of primary care physicians and hepatocellular carcinoma‐related mortality in the United States

## TL;DR

More primary care physicians are linked to lower liver cancer deaths, especially in African American communities.

## Contribution

The study shows a correlation between primary care physician availability and reduced hepatocellular carcinoma mortality.

## Key findings

- Higher availability of primary care physicians correlates with lower HCC-related mortality.
- African Americans may benefit most from increased access to primary care physicians for better HCC outcomes.

## Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer worldwide and majority cases are diagnosed at an intermediate or advanced stage. Per our analysis, greater availability of primary care physicians correlates with lower HCC‐related mortality. Our results underscore the need for efforts to expand access to primary care among all populations, especially African Americans, to improve overall HCC‐related outcomes.