Treatment Differences for Adrenocortical Carcinoma by Race and Insurance Status

J Surg Res. 2022 Dec:280:169-178. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.05.011. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Abstract

Introduction: To determine if treatment and clinical outcomes of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) vary by race and insurance status.

Methods: ACC patients from the National Cancer Database (2004-2017) were reviewed. Race was defined as White versus minority (Black and Hispanic). Insurance types were private (PI) versus other (Medicaid/uninsured/unknown). Metastatic ACC (M-ACC) was defined as distant metastases at the time of diagnosis; nonmetastatic ACC (NM-ACC) patient had no distant disease.

Results: Of 2351 NM-ACC patients, 83.6% were White and 16.4% minority. There were 1216 M-ACC patients, with 80.3% White and 19.8% minority. Both White NM-ACC and M-ACC patients had more PI (each P < 0.001). PI NM-ACC was associated with a shorter duration from diagnosis to first treatment (14 versus 18 d, P = 0.005). Both NM-ACC and M-ACC with PI were more likely to receive surgery (92.6% versus 86.9%, P = 0.001 and 35.4% versus 27%, P = 0.02) and to receive surgery sooner (13 versus 16 d, P = 0.03). M-ACC with PI were more likely to receive chemotherapy (63.6% versus 54.3%, P = 0.01) and to have lymph nodes examined (14.8% versus 8.6%, P = 0.02). Length of stay postoperatively was shorter for White NM-ACC (6 versus 7 d, P = 0.04) and M-ACC (8 versus 17 d, P = 0.02). For NM-ACC and M-ACC, the 30-d readmission, 90-d mortality, and overall survival were similar by race. A multivariable analysis showed minorities (OR 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.54-0.88, P = 0.003) and patients without PI (OR 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.97, P = 0.03) were less likely to have surgery. However, a multivariable analysis showed survival was similar for White versus minority patients and PI versus other.

Conclusions: White NM-ACC or M-ACC and PI were more likely to receive surgery and timely multimodality care. These disparities were not associated with differences in 90-d mortality or overall survival.

Keywords: Adrenal; Adrenalectomy; Adrenocortical carcinoma; Disparity; Outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Adrenocortical Carcinoma* / surgery
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Medically Uninsured
  • United States / epidemiology