Travel-time barriers to specialized cancer care for adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prior studies demonstrate that 20%-50% of adolescents and young adults (age 15-39 years) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive care at specialty cancer centers, yet a survival benefit has been observed for patients at these sites. Our objective was to identify patients at risk of severe geographic barriers to specialty cancer center-level care.

Methods

We used data from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Cancer in North America database to identify adolescent and young adult ALL patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2016 across 43 US states. We calculated driving distance and travel time from counties where participants lived to the closest specialty cancer center sites. We then used multivariable logistic regression models to exam

SUBMITTER: Parsons HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11229987 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature