An Exploratory Retrospective Analysis of Racial Disparities in Fall-Related Injuries Among Black and White Breast Cancer Survivors Receiving Chemotherapy

TL;DR

This study found that Black breast cancer survivors on certain chemotherapy regimens face a higher risk of fall-related injuries compared to White survivors.

Contribution

The study identifies racial disparities in fall-related injury risks associated with specific chemotherapy regimens among breast cancer survivors.

Findings

Black survivors had a 14.7% fall-related injury rate versus 10.0% for White survivors.

The risk was notably higher for Black patients receiving Cyclophosphamide, Docetaxel, and Carboplatin.

Abstract

Purpose: This exploratory retrospective analysis examined racial disparities in fall-related injuries among Black and White breast cancer survivors who received chemotherapy, focusing on the risks associated with specific chemotherapy regimens. Methods: Using real-world data from the TriNetX research platform, we analyzed a cohort of 3223 Stage I–III breast cancer survivors with complete data on race, chemotherapy exposure, and fall-related injuries. The final sample included only Black and White patients treated with chemotherapy between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2023. Fall events within six months post-chemotherapy were analyzed. Logistic regression models evaluated associations between chemotherapy type and fall risk by race. Results: Black breast cancer survivors experienced a significantly higher rate of fall-related injuries (14.7%) compared to White survivors (10.0%) (p < 0.001). The risk was especially elevated among Black patients receiving Cyclophosphamide, Docetaxel, and Carboplatin. Conclusion: This study highlights racial differences in chemotherapy-associated fall risk. While the findings are observational and limited by data availability, they underscore the need for more inclusive survivorship care and further investigation using detailed clinical and contextual variables. Real-world platforms like TriNetX can help identify early signals of disparities that merit prospective study.

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