A new study reveals that social and economic factors play a major role in explaining racial disparities in cancer survival rates among Americans. Researchers analyzed data from over 5,000 cancer survivors and found that Black and Hispanic patients were much more likely to face multiple social disadvantages compared to White patients.
The study, published in BMC Medicine, examined “social determinants of health” like employment, income, education, and insurance coverage. Black cancer survivors were 1.6 times more likely than White survivors to have low family income, which was associated with 50% higher all-cause mortality.
“Unfavorable social determinants of health levels were critical risk factors for all-cause and cancer-specific mortality, as well as the underlying cause of racial all-cause mortality disparities among US cancer survivors,” the authors wrote.
They found that having multiple social disadvantages dramatically increased mortality risk. Compared to those with no disadvantages, cancer survivors with six or more social risk factors had over 6 times higher risk of death from any cause and 5 times higher risk of cancer death.
The racial gap in overall mortality between Black and White cancer survivors disappeared after accounting for social factors. However, differences in cancer-specific mortality remained significant even after adjustment.
“Addressing social disparities in cancer health is a very important part of improving survival outcomes for cancer survivors, reflecting a commitment to health equity—aimed at achieving the optimal health for everyone,” the researchers concluded.
