Association Between Marital Status and Racial Disparities in Esophageal Cancer Care

This study was designed to examine the impact of marital status on racial disparities in esophageal cancer care.

We performed a secondary analysis of data collected from the state cancer registry maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. We identified patients with an esophageal cancer diagnosis between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2013. χ² test and logistics regression were used to analyze 6,809 patients who met our eligibility criteria. Statistical significance was defined as P ≤ .05.

Approximately 88.4% of our patients were White and 11.6% were Black. A significantly higher number of White patients were married when compared with Blacks (62.9% v 31.8%, respectively; P < .0001). There was no significant difference in cancer staging between the 2 groups (P = .0671). Married Blacks had similar rates of esophagectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation as married Whites. Both single groups had lower rates of esophagectomy and chemotherapy than married Whites, but single Blacks were the least likely to undergo esophagectomy. Single patients were more likely to refuse treatment.

Marital status differs significantly in Black and White patients with esophageal cancer and may help explain racial disparities in cancer care. Further research is needed to explore reasons for care underutilization in single patients and whether these differences translate into clinical outcomes.