Investigating Disparities in Hypopharyngeal/Laryngeal Cancer Survival in Florida With Geospatial Mapping Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers are significant causes of cancer-related mortality.
• Identifying predictors of overall survival (OS) is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of overall survival (OS) in patients with hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer in Florida.
• To analyze the geographical variation of mortality rates within the state.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study using the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS) from 2010-2017.
• Analysis of 6771 patients diagnosed with hypopharyngeal or laryngeal cancer.
• Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate Hazard Ratios (HRs) for OS.

Main Results:

• Key predictors of worse OS included being single/unmarried, a history of tobacco use, and uninsured status.
• Improved OS was observed in White Hispanics compared to White non-Hispanics, and in women compared to men.
• Mortality rates were highest in census tracts characterized by low income and education levels.

Conclusions:

• Sociodemographic factors (marital status, race/ethnicity, sex) and clinical factors (tobacco use, insurance status, cancer site) significantly impact OS.
• Geographical disparities in mortality rates highlight the need for localized public health strategies.
• These findings provide a basis for developing targeted public health interventions to improve cancer survival in Florida.