Underutilization and disparities in access to EGFR testing among Medicare patients with lung cancer from 2010 - 2013.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tumor testing for mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is indicated for all newly diagnosed, metastatic lung cancer patients, who may be candidates for first-line treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Few studies have analyzed population-level testing.

Methods

We identified clinical, demographic, and regional predictors of EGFR & KRAS testing among Medicare beneficiaries with a new diagnosis of lung cancer in 2011-2013 claims. The outcome variable was whether the patient underwent molecular, EGFR and KRAS testing. Independent variables included: patient demographics, Medicaid status, clinical characteristics, and region where the patient lived. We performed multivariate logistic regression to identify factors that predicted tes

SUBMITTER: Lynch JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5859516 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature