African Americans are less likely to receive curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Health services research

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern.
• Ensuring equitable treatment for all patients is a key healthcare objective.
• Previous studies suggest potential disparities in HCC management, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate contemporary racial disparities in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• To identify if specific racial groups face barriers in accessing curative HCC therapies.
• To analyze differences in treatment modalities and outcomes across racial demographics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database.
• Inclusion of patients with a primary diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
• Univariate and multivariate analyses to assess racial disparities in treatment, liver decompensation, mortality, and metastasis.

Main Results:

• Caucasian, Hispanic, and other racial groups were more likely than African-American patients to receive curative treatments including liver transplant, resection, and ablation.
• No significant differences in transarterial chemoembolization rates were observed across racial groups.
• A total of 62,604 patients with HCC were analyzed, with distinct representation across Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, and other racial categories.

Conclusions:

• Significant racial disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment persist, contrary to healthcare equality goals.
• African-American patients are disproportionately less likely to receive curative interventions for HCC.
• These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address inequities in HCC care.