SDOH Disparities Among Black and Hispanic Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly impact the perceived well-being of Black and Hispanic patients who survived ovarian cancer compared to White survivors, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address disparities according to research published in Gynecologic Oncology. 

The 5-year survival rate for Black women with ovarian cancer is 41%, compared to 49% for White women. Researchers attribute disparities in survival and recurrence rates to SDOH, prompting a study on the impact of these factors on the well-being of Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using health and SDOH survey data from the All of Us Research Program. The program collects data from over 500  000 racially diverse patients. Among 1 250 included patients with ovarian cancer, 414 completed SDOH surveys, with varying racial demographics. The study evaluated the impact of 5 SDOH domains by assigning numerical scores to patient responses. Factors such as neighborhood characteristics, supportive relationships, spiritual life, food, housing security, and day-to-day discrimination were analyzed. 

The study found that improvements in SDOH scores were associated with better perceptions of overall health, mental health, and social satisfaction among patients with ovarian cancer.

“Overall, Black ovarian cancer survivors were significantly more likely to have a poor perception of general health, social satisfaction, and general mental health than White ovarian cancer survivors. Similarly, Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors were significantly more likely to have a poor perception of general health, social satisfaction, and general mental health than non-Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors,” reported the American Journal of Managed Care. 

The researchers noted they did not examine all potential SDOH factors, possibly contributing to ongoing disparities in health perceptions among Black and Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors compared to White survivors. Despite limitations, the researchers stood by their findings and proposed further research in the field. The authors urged collaboration between health care professionals, scientists, and communities to develop innovative interventions to address ovarian cancer care disparities equitably.

Reference 
McCormick B. SDOH factors impact health perceptions in Black, Hispanic ovarian cancer survivors. AJMC. July 17, 2024. Accesses July 18, 2024. https://www.ajmc.com/view/sdoh-factors-impact-health-perceptions-in-black-hispanic-ovarian-cancer-survivors