Racial Differences in Incident Genitourinary Cancer Cases Captured in the National Cancer Database

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The National Cancer Database (NCDB) captures approximately 70% of US cancer diagnoses.
• Capture rates vary significantly by tumor site and patient demographics.
• Genitourinary cancers, particularly prostate cancer, show lower NCDB coverage than average.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate National Cancer Database (NCDB) coverage rates for genitourinary cancers.
• To analyze coverage variations based on patient race and ethnicity.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of cancer incidence data between the NCDB and United States Cancer Statistics.
• Analysis of NCDB capture rates across different racial and ethnic groups for genitourinary malignancies.

Main Results:

• American Indian/Alaskan Native and Asian/Pacific Islander populations had the lowest NCDB capture rates.
• White patients had higher overall capture rates than Black patients for genitourinary cancers.
• Specific differences observed for prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers based on race and sex.

Conclusions:

• Racial disparities exist in NCDB coverage for genitourinary cancers.
• Unequal access to Commission on Cancer-accredited facilities may contribute to these disparities.
• Further research into health equity for minority patients with genitourinary cancers is warranted.