Faculty Collaboration Database

Historical redlining and breast cancer treatment and survival among older women in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst 2023 Jun 08;115(6):652-661

Date

02/17/2023

Pubmed ID

36794919

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10248836

DOI

10.1093/jnci/djad034

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85163239340 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among US women, and institutional racism is a critical cause of health disparities. We investigated impacts of historical redlining on BC treatment receipt and survival in the United States.

METHODS: Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) boundaries were used to measure historical redlining. Eligible women in the 2010-2017 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare BC cohort were assigned a HOLC grade. The independent variable was a dichotomized HOLC grade: A and B (nonredlined) and C and D (redlined). Outcomes of receipt of various cancer treatments, all-cause mortality (ACM), and BC-specific mortality (BCSM) were analyzed using logistic or Cox models. Indirect effects by comorbidity were examined.

RESULTS: Among 18 119 women, 65.7% resided in historically redlined areas (HRAs), and 32.6% were deceased at a median follow-up of 58 months. A larger proportion of deceased women resided in HRAs (34.5% vs 30.0%). Of all deceased women, 41.6% died of BC; a larger proportion resided in HRAs (43.4% vs 37.8%). Historical redlining is a statistically significant predictor of poorer survival after BC diagnosis (hazard ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03 to 1.15 for ACM, and hazard ratio = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.13 to 1.41 for BCSM). Indirect effects via comorbidity were identified. Historical redlining was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving surgery (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.66 to 0.83, and a higher likelihood of receiving palliative care odds ratio = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.91).

CONCLUSION: Historical redlining is associated with differential treatment receipt and poorer survival for ACM and BCSM. Relevant stakeholders should consider historical contexts when designing and implementing equity-focused interventions to reduce BC disparities. Clinicians should advocate for healthier neighborhoods while providing care.

Author List

Bikomeye JC, Zhou Y, McGinley EL, Canales B, Yen TWF, Tarima S, Ponce SB, Beyer KMM

Authors

Kirsten M. Beyer PhD, MPH Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Bethany Canales Statistician in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Tina W F Yen MD, MS Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Breast Neoplasms
Female
Humans
Medicare
Residence Characteristics
United States