Associations between social drivers of health and breast cancer stage at diagnosis among U.S. Black women

TL;DR

This study finds that social factors like income and access to screening are linked to later-stage breast cancer diagnoses in U.S. Black women.

Contribution

The study identifies specific social drivers of health associated with late-stage breast cancer diagnosis in Black women.

Findings

Underutilization of screening mammography triples odds of late-stage diagnosis.

Income below the federal poverty line increases odds of late-stage diagnosis.

Lack of insurance and lower education are linked to later diagnosis but not statistically significant.

Abstract

U.S. Black women have disproportionately high breast cancer mortality, partly due to later-stage diagnoses. We examined how social drivers of health (SDOH) relate to stage at diagnosis by analyzing data from 4,995 breast cancer survivors in the Black Women’s Health Study, Carolina Breast Cancer Study, and Women’s Circle of Health Studies. SDOH were self-reported and stage was ascertained from medical records. We used polytomous logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for diagnosis at stages III/IV or II versus stage I (referent), adjusting for age, insurance status, and income. Meta-analyzed results indicated that underutilization of screening mammography (OR = 3.21, 95% CI 1.90–5.43) and income below the federal poverty line (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.17–3.10) were significantly associated with later stage diagnosis (III/IV). ORs for lack of insurance and lower education were above 1.0, but not consistently statistically significant. These findings substantiate the importance of the affordability and utilization of breast cancer screening.

Figures