PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jennifer Li
AU  - Sylvie D. Cornacchi
AU  - Forough Farrokhyar
AU  - Neil Johnston
AU  - Shawn Forbes
AU  - Susan Reid
AU  - Nicole Hodgson
AU  - Sarah Lovrics
AU  - Kristen Lucibello
AU  - Peter Lovrics
TI  - Relation between socioeconomic variables and surgical, systemic and radiation treatment in a cohort of patients with breast cancer in an urban Canadian centre
AID  - 10.1503/cjs.009217
DP  - 2019 Apr 01
TA  - Canadian Journal of Surgery
PG  - 83--92
VI  - 62
IP  - 2
4099  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/62/2/83.short
4100  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/62/2/83.full
SO  - CAN J SURG2019 Apr 01; 62
AB  - Background: Studies have shown an association between socioeconomic status and breast cancer treatment. We examined the relation between socioeconomic status and the treatment of breast cancer (surgical, systemic and radiation) in a universal health care system.Method Data from a single urban Canadian centre were collected for consecutive patients who received a diagnosis of breast cancer from January 2010 to December 2011. Variables included patient and disease factors, surgery type, systemic and radiation treatment, and breast reconstruction. Socioeconomic variables were obtained from 2006 Canadian census data. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of breast cancer treatment.Results: A total of 721 patients were treated for breast cancer during the study period. Socioeconomic variables were not related to type of breast surgery for breast cancer. Age less than 50 years, having a first-degree relative with breast cancer and income status were predictors of breast reconstruction. Employment status was a consistent predictor of systemic and radiation treatment.Conclusion: Employment consistently predicted systemic and radiation treatment, and age and income were predictors of breast reconstruction in a universal health care system. Further research is required to determine precisely how socioeconomic factors affect care and to minimize possible disparities in delivery of health care services.