Lung Cancer Staging at Diagnosis in the Veterans Health Administration: Is Rurality an Influencing Factor? A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To evaluate the association between rurality and lung cancer stage at diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data to identify veterans newly diagnosed with lung cancer between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2015. We defined rurality, based on place of residence, using Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes with the subcategories of urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated. We used multivariable logistic regression models to determine associations between rurality and stage at diagnosis, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We also analyzed data using the RUCA code for patients' assigned primary care sites and driving distances to primary care clinics and medical centers.

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SUBMITTER: Sanchez R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8867495 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature