Integrated care among patients with kidney or urinary bladder cancer: An NCI patterns-of-care analysis

Cancer patients often have complex medical needs from diagnosis to survivorship/end-of-life care. Integrated care, including care coordination, multidisciplinary rounds, and supportive care services, is crucial for high-quality cancer care. Yet, factors influencing integrated care receipt are not well understood. This study describes patterns of integrated care among individuals diagnosed with kidney or urinary bladder cancer and examines patient- and hospital-level factors associated with these services.

Analyzing 2019 National Cancer Institute Patterns-of-Care data, we assessed integrated care service receipt among stage I to IV kidney and stage 0a to IVb urinary bladder cancer patients aged ≥ 20 years using a stratified Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry sample. Integrated care services within 12 months postdiagnosis were identified by medical record abstraction. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified patient, clinical, and hospital-level factors significantly associated with receipt of integrated care.

Significant variations in receiving integrated care were observed based on insurance status; uninsured patients less likely to receive these services. Racial/ethnic differences were also noted, as non-Hispanic white patients had higher likelihoods of receiving integrated care. Stage IV kidney cancer patients were 2.63 times [1.44-4.79] more likely to receive integrated care than stage I patients. Treatment characteristics and hospital-level factors appeared to have minimal impact on receiving these services.

The lower likelihood of receiving integrated care among patients with no insurance and among certain racial/ethnic groups underscores gaps in equitable access to patient-centered cancer care. Future research should include patient perspectives to enhance understanding of unmet needs and influencing factors related to integrated care services.