Gender and ethnic disparities in colon cancer presentation and outcomes in a US universal health care setting

Objective Access to care is a pillar of U.S. healthcare reform and could potentially challenge existing ethnic and gender disparities in care. We present a snapshot of these disparities in surgical colon cancer patients in the largest public hospital in Massachusetts, a state leading in providing universal healthcare, to indicate potential changes that might result from universal care access. Methods All surgical colon cancer patients at Massachusetts General Hospital (2004-2011) were included. Baseline characteristics, perioperative, and long-term outcomes were compared. Results Among 1,071 patients, the 110 (10.3%) minority patients presented with more comorbid (mean Charlson score 0.84 vs. 0.71; P = 0.039), metastatic (21.8% vs. 14%; P = 0.026), and node-positive disease (50% vs. 38.8%; P = 0.014). Women (n = 521; 48.6%) had less screening diagnoses (overall: 17.8% vs. 22.6%; P = 0.049, screening age: 26.4% vs. 32.7%; P = 0.036) with subsequently higher rates of metastatic disease on pathology (11.3% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.02). Multivariate adjustment for baseline staging makes outcome disparities no longer statistically significant. Conclusions Significant gender and ethnic disparities subsist at baseline despite long-standing low-threshold healthcare access, although seemingly mitigated by enrollment into high-level care, empowering equal chances for underprivileged groups. The outcomes are also a reminder that universal healthcare will not be a panacea for the deeply rooted and dynamic causes of presentation inequalities.