In a cross-sectional study reported in JAMA Network Open, Grabowski et al found that among U.S. adults, a history of cancer was associated with an increased risk of disability and unemployment payments and higher medical expenditures.
Study Details
The study used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Study (MEPS) for 2010 to 2016 to provide a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 50 to 79 years.
Key Findings
Among 39,439 individual MEPS respondents included in the analysis, 12% had a history of cancer.
On multivariate analysis among persons aged 50 to 64 years, those with a history of cancer were significantly more likely vs those without a cancer history to have a work-limiting disability (absolute difference = 9.80 percentage points, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.35–12.25 percentage points, P < .01), less likely to be employed (absolute difference = 9.08 percentage points, 95% CI = 6.22–11.94 percentage points, P < .01), and more likely to have received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, assistance (absolute difference = 1.45 percentage points, P < .01). It was estimated that a history of cancer accounted for 505,768 fewer employed individuals in the population aged 50 to 64 years.
Among persons aged 50 to 79 years, those with a cancer history had an increase of $2,722 (95% CI = $2,131–$3,313) in medical spending (P < .01), $6,460 (95% CI = $5,254–$7,667) in public medical spending (P < .01), and $515 (95% CI = $337–$692) in other public assistance spending (P < .01).
The investigators concluded, “In this cross-sectional study, a history of cancer was associated with increased likelihood of disability, higher medical spending, and decreased likelihood of employment. These findings suggest there may be gains beyond increased longevity if cancer can be detected and treated earlier.”
David C. Grabowski, PhD, of the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, is the corresponding author for the JAMA Network Open article.
Disclosure: The study was funded by GRAIL, LLC. For full disclosures of the study authors, visit jamanetwork.com.
