Authors: Amresh D Hanchate Kerri M CloughGorr Arlene S Ash Soe Soe Thwin Rebecca A Silliman
Publish Date: 2010/06/08
Volume: 25, Issue: 10, Pages: 1045-1050
Abstract
Newly identified breast cancer patients recruited during 1997–1999 from four geographic regions Los Angeles CA Minnesota North Carolina and Rhode Island N = 422 were matched by age race baseline comorbidity and zip code location with up to four nonbreastcancer controls N = 1656Fiveyear survival was similar for cases and controls 80 and 82 respectively p = 018 In the first followup year comorbidity burden and health care utilization were higher for cases p 001 with most differences diminishing over time However the number of physician visits was higher for cases p 001 in every year driven partly by more cancer and surgical specialist visits Cases and controls adhered similarly to recommended bone density testing and monitoring of cardiovascular disease and diabetes adherence to recommended colorectal cancer screening was better among casesBreast cancer survivors’ health care utilization and disease burden return to prediagnosis levels after one year yet their greater use of outpatient care persists at least five years Quality of care for other chronic health problems is similar for cases and controls
Keywords: