Influence of Social Vulnerability in Treatment and Prognosis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association of social determinants of health (SDoH) in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in the United States and to evaluate the real‐world contribution of specific disparities.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingUnited States.MethodsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‐Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and National Cancer Institute‐Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database were used to study 62,103 adult tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients from 1975 to 2017. Regression analysis assessed trends in months of follow‐up and survival across social vulnerability and 4 subcategories of social vulnerability.ResultsAs overall SVI score increases (increased social vulnerability), there is a significant decrease in the average length of follow‐up (22.95% decrease from 63.99 to 49.31 months; P < .001) across patients from the lowest and highest social vulnerability groups. As overall SVI score increases, there is a significant decrease in the average months of survival (28.00% decrease from 49.20 to 35.43 months; P < .001). There is also a significantly greater odds ratio (OR = 1.05; P < .001) of advanced cancer staging upon presentation at higher SVI scores. Patients with higher SVI scores have a lower OR (0.93; P < .001) of receiving surgery as their primary treatment when compared to patients with lower SVI scores. Patients with higher SVI scores also have a significantly greater OR (OR = 1.05; P < .001) of receiving chemotherapy as their primary treatment when compared to patients with lower SVI scores.ConclusionIncreased social vulnerability is shown to have a detrimental impact on the treatment and prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.