Racial Disparities in the Receipt of Guideline Care and Cancer Deaths for Women with Ovarian Cancer

Black women with ovarian cancer experience worse survival than white women. Receipt of guideline care improves survival, yet care may vary by race. We assessed rates of guideline care and role of guideline treatment on survival disparities.

This retrospective cohort analysis used the NCI's Patterns of Care data for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 2002 and 2011 (weighted n = 3,999), with follow-up through December 12, 2014. Logistic regression included patient characteristics, insurance, and gynecologic oncologist (GO) consultation to produce adjusted standardized percentages of women receiving guideline treatment by race. Cox proportional hazards analysis assessed risk of ovarian cancer death.

Guideline care was significantly lower for black women compared with white women (adjusted 27.5% vs. 34.1%). Increased receipt of guideline care was associated with GO consultation, younger ages, stage, and insurance. Rates of GO consultation were comparable for black and white women, approximately 60%. Black women were more likely to receive no surgery or no chemotherapy if they did not consult a GO. The unadjusted death risk was significantly higher in black women (HR = 1.33). After adjusting for receipt of guideline care and other factors, black and white women had similar risk of death (HR = 1.05).

Race was not associated with risk of death when guideline care was included in multivariate survival models. However, black patients received less guideline care. GO consultation significantly increased receipt of guideline care.

Research is needed to understand treatment perspectives for black patients and their providers to increase the receipt of guideline care and reduce survival disparities.