Decision to operate on hepatocellular cancer patients is not driven by comorbidities in Louisiana

The mortality rate of Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in Louisiana is second worst in the United States. This has been linked to underutilization of curative treatment (CT). This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with underutilization of CT in Louisiana.

Patients with AJCC T1 HCC diagnosed from 2011 to 2020 were identified from the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) using site and histology codes. Patients who underwent CT (ablation, resection, and transplantation) were compared to those who did not undergo CT. Logistic regression was performed and results reported as adjusted odds ratios.

CT was utilized in 462 (37 %) of 1247 patients with T1 HCC. There were no significant differences observed in age, race, BMI, poverty, or rurality between CT and non-CT patients. The percentage of cirrhosis was similar in both groups (35.3 % vs. 37.7 %, NS). On multivariant analysis, lack of CT was independently associated with low socioeconomic status (SES; p = 0.040), treatment outside a COC center (p < 0.001), and lack commercial/private insurance (p < 0.001).

Utilization of CT is driven not by comorbidities, but by insurance type, low SES, and treatment facility indicating the profound effect that care disparities have on HCC treatment.