Patients with cancer and limited financial means are more likely to have a higher symptom burden and decreased quality of life (QOL), according to a recent study.
Rising health care costs mean that the treatments needed to manage the painful symptoms associated with cancer do not come cheaply for many patients. Past studies have demonstrated that higher income level and access to quality health insurance are tied to a patient’s likelihood of survival. However, a patient with a high-income level is not by rule in a financially secure position, and a patient with a low-income level may still have cash saved up.
A group of researchers led by Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Center (Boston, MA), set out to measure the association between patient financial strain and symptom burden and QOL with new diagnoses of lung or colorectal cancer. Their results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Patients involved in the study were interviewed about their financial reserves, QOL, and symptom burden at 4 months. Survivors were also interviewed using the same subjects, but at 12 months of diagnosis.
Results of the survey revealed that 40% of patients with lung cancer and 33% of patients with colorectal cancer reported limited financial reserves (less than 2 months). Compared with patients with more than 12 months of reserves, these patients reported significantly increased pain, greater symptom burden, and poorer QOL. Researchers noted that, with decreasing financial reserves, a clear dose-response relationship was evident for all measures of well-being. Similar associations were present for survivors who reported outcomes again 1 year later.
The exact reason as to why financial strain might be linked to more pain and poorer quality of life was not clear in the study. However, some studies have theorized that patients with more financial stress could have difficulties accessing quality care or might skip out on treatment in an effort to manage their costs.
Regardless, researchers concluded that limited financial reserves can increase the likelihood of higher symptom burden and decreased QOL. Providers should consider ways to identify these patient groups and provide intensive support.
