International Journal of Breast Cancer

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 970780, 11 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/970780

Research Article

Impact of Undetected Comorbidity on Treatment and Outcomes of Breast Cancer

Robert I. Griffiths,1,2 Michelle L. Gleeson,³ José M. Valderas,¹ and Mark D. Danese³

¹Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, 2nd Floor, Oxford OX1 2ET, UK

²Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

³Outcomes Insights, 340 North Westlake Blvd, Suite 200, Westlake Village, CA 91362, USA

Received 10 October 2013; Accepted 6 January 2014; Published 13 February 2014

Academic Editor: Ian S. Fentiman

Copyright © 2014 Robert I. Griffiths et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Preexisting comorbidity adversely impacts breast cancer treatment and outcomes. We examined the incremental impact of comorbidity undetected until cancer. We followed breast cancer patients in SEER-Medicare from 12 months before to 84 months after diagnosis. Two comorbidity indices were constructed: the National Cancer Institute index, using 12 months of claims before cancer, and a second index for previously undetected conditions, using three months after cancer. Conditions present in the first were excluded from the second. Overall, 6,184 (10.1%) had undetected comorbidity. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (38%) was the most common undetected condition. In multivariable analyses that adjusted for comorbidity detected before cancer, older age, later stage, higher grade, and poor performance status all were associated with higher odds of undetected comorbidity. In stage I–III cancer, undetected comorbidity was associated with lower adjusted odds of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.81, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.73–0.90, ; , 95% CI 0.30–0.49, ; index score 1 or , respectively), and with increased mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.45, 95% CI 1.38–1.53, ; , 95% CI 2.18–2.60, ; index score 1 or ). Undetected comorbidity is associated with less aggressive treatment and higher mortality in breast cancer.

1. Introduction

Comorbidity adversely impacts the treatment [1–7] and outcomes [1, 3, 6, 8–22] of breast cancer, especially in older patients. For instance, studies have shown that breast cancer patients with previously identified comorbidity are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy [2, 4, 5] and have higher mortality [8]. Many such studies from the United States are based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry linked to health insurance claims (SEER-Medicare) [1, 2, 5, 6, 17–20], where a common approach is first to identify conditions appearing in claims prior to cancer and then to use these conditions to construct a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comorbidity Index [23], which is an adaptation of the Charlson index (CCI) [24].

Most studies based on SEER-Medicare include some measures of comorbidity, and in a random sample of all SEER-Medicare studies published between 2006 and 2011, 23/30 (77%) included the NCI Comorbidity Index. One important limitation of this index, however, is that it ignores conditions that are undetected in claims until after cancer is diagnosed. Recently, we examined the incidence of undetected comorbidity in breast cancer [25] and found that many chronic conditions included in the NCI Comorbidity Index, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), remained undetected in claims until 1–3 months after cancer.

Undetected comorbidity could have additional implications for breast cancer treatment and outcomes. Therefore, in this study we sought to describe risk factors for comorbidity that remained undetected until breast cancer, and to assess the added impact of undetected comorbidity on breast cancer treatment and outcomes.

2. Methods

2.1. Data

Presently SEER-Medicare [26] includes all Medicare-eligible persons from 16 of the 17 SEER registries through 2005 and their Medicare claims for Part A (inpatient) and Part B (outpatient and physician services) through 2007.

2.2. Patients

Patients were included if they were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2001-01-01 and 2005-12-31, had only one primary cancer diagnosed, and had at least 12 months of Medicare Part A and Part B coverage prior to cancer. They were excluded for the following reasons: male breast cancer, cancer diagnosed before age 65, diagnosis made by death certificate or autopsy, death within the first month following diagnosis, or Medicare enrollment less than 12 months before diagnosis. Patients were followed up from 12 months before cancer until the end of the claims period (2007-12-31) or death, whichever came first. Since SEER reports only the month of cancer diagnosis, the first day of that month was assigned as the date of diagnosis.

2.2.1. Variables

Patients were described according to their demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics [26, 27]. SEER does not include measures of performance status, such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Instead, we used Medicare claims to identify several indictors of poor performance status, including the use of oxygen and related respiratory therapy supplies, wheelchair and supplies, home health agency services, and skilled nursing facility admissions, all from 12 months before until 30 days after breast cancer diagnosis [28].

The SEER-Medicare dataset contains information from the 2000 US Census, reported at the tract level in which the patient lives, for the percent of the population living in poverty and the percent of those aged ≥25 years with some college. We used these as indicators of the socioeconomic status of individual patients in the cohort.

2.2.2. Comorbidity

We constructed two indices of comorbidity. In SEER-Medicare, the gold standard for documenting the presence of comorbidity prior to cancer is the NCI Comorbidity Index [23], which is usually constructed based on claims from 12 months to one month before cancer diagnosis. Diagnosis and procedure codes are used to identify the 15 noncancer comorbidities in the CCI [24]. A weight is then assigned to each condition, and the weights are summed to obtain the index score for each patient. We followed this approach to capture comorbidity detected prior to cancer and classified patients as having a score =0, 1, or ≥2.

We applied the same algorithms used in the NCI Comorbidity Index to construct an index of undetected comorbidity, which was based on claims from the month of cancer diagnosis up to two months after. For each patient, conditions identified prior to cancer were excluded from the undetected comorbidity index. If chemotherapy or radiation began within three months following cancer diagnosis, the observation period for the undetected comorbidity index was truncated at that time to minimize the risk of misclassifying treatment-related adverse events as undetected conditions. As above, patients were classified as having a score = 0, 1, or ≥2. Since the minimum weight assigned to any condition in either index is one (1), for clarity the term “≥ 1 condition/comorbidity” is used in the Results to describe patients with a score on either the previously detected or undetected comorbidity index of ≥1.

2.2.3. Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Adjuvant chemotherapy was identified based on Healthcare Common Procedure Coding (HCPCS) “J” codes as recommended by the NCI [29]. The first claim for chemotherapy had to appear within 180 days of cancer diagnosis for the patient to be classified as having received chemotherapy.

2.3. Mortality

The date of death was assigned by using the Medicare date if available. When the Medicare date was missing but the SEER date was available, the SEER date was used. All other patients were assumed to be alive at the end of the observation period. The cause of death was classified as cancer or other cause.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

Multivariable analyses were performed to examine risk factors for undetected comorbidity, as well as associations between undetected comorbidity, adjuvant chemotherapy, and mortality. Both indices of comorbidity were included in analyses of treatment and mortality to assess the incremental impact of undetected comorbidity. The multivariable analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy was limited to those with stage I–III disease [5]. All multivariable survival analyses included only those who survived at least 3 months after cancer diagnosis. Final models were selected through a process of forward, stepwise regression, taking into account statistical significance, interactions among covariables, and whether a nonstatistically significant finding was informative. In almost all instances, at least one level of each variable included in the final model was statistically significantly different from the reference category of that variable. In all instances, prior comorbidity and previously undetected comorbidity were included in the final multivariable model. However, we compared the magnitude and significance of the coefficients on the previously undetected comorbidity in models that included versus excluded prior comorbidity as a covariable to assess the level of colinearity between these two.

3. Results

There were 61,002 patients in the final cohort, of whom 6,184 (10%) had ≥1 undetected comorbidity. The mean (standard deviation) age was 76.0 (6.8), 54.6% were aged >75 years, 61% were diagnosed with in situ or stage I disease, 14% had ≥1 indicator of poor performance, and 33% had ≥1 comorbidity detected prior to cancer (Table 1). Those with ≥1 undetected comorbidity also were more likely to have ≥1 condition detected prior to cancer.

Table 1: Patient characteristics.

Index of undetected comorbidity

  Overall
Score

( = 61,002)
0
≥1
value

%
( = 54,818)
( = 6,184)

%

%

Age at cancer diagnosis (years)

    66–70
12,361
20.3
11,412
20.8
949
15.4
<0.0001

    71–75
15,368
25.2
14,036
25.6
1,332
21.5

    76–80
15,108
24.8
13,576
24.8
1,532
24.8

    >80
18,165
29.8
15,794
28.8
2,371
38.3

Race/ethnicity

    White
52,270
85.7
47,048
85.8
5,222
84.4
<0.0001

    Black
4,188
6.9
3,639
6.6
549
8.9

    Hispanic
2,249
3.7
2,016
3.7
233
3.8

    Other
2,295
3.8
2,115
3.9
180
2.9

Year of cancer diagnosis

    2001
12,660
20.8
11,322
20.7
1,338
21.6
0.12

    2002
12,452
20.4
11,166
20.4
1,286
20.8

    2003
12,086
19.8
10,845
19.8
1,241
20.1

    2004
11,929
19.6
10,765
19.6
1164
18.8

    2005
11,875
19.5
10,720
19.6
1155
18.7

Index of prior comorbidity score

(NCI Comorbidity Index)

    0
41,001
67.2
37,365
68.2
3,636
58.8
<0.0001

    1
13,480
22.1
11,952
21.8
1,528
24.7

    ≥2
6,521
10.7
5,501
10.0
1020
16.5

Stage at diagnosis

10,167
16.7
9,618
17.6
549
8.8
<0.0001

    I
26,754
43.9
24,578
44.8
2,176
35.1

    II
17,165
28.1
15,080
27.5
2,085
33.7

    III
4,096
6.7
3,428
6.3
668
10.8

    IV
2,820
4.6
2,114
3.9
706
11.4

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status

    ER and PR positive
31,419
51.5
28,347
51.7
3,072
49.7
<0.0001

    ER or PR positive
8,081
13.3
7,203
13.1
878
14.2

    ER and PR negative
7,165
11.8
6,353
11.6
812
13.1

    Unknown/missing
14,337
23.5
12,915
23.6
1,422
23.0

Histological grade

    1
12,419
20.4
11,403
20.8
1,016
16.4
<0.0001

    2
23,407
38.4
21,090
38.5
2,317
37.5

    3
15,291
25.1
13,528
24.7
1,763
28.5

    4
1,881
3.1
1,710
3.1
171
2.8

    Missing/unknown
8,004
13.1
7,087
12.9
917
14.8

Indicators of poor performance

    0
52,460
86.0
47,599
86.8
4,861
78.6
<0.0001

    ≥1
8,542
14.0
7,219
13.2
1,323
21.4

Percent in census tract with some college

    <25%
21,117
34.6
18,822
34.4
2,295
37.1
<0.0001

    ≥25%
39,885
65.4
35,996
65.7
3,889
62.9

Percent in census tract living in poverty

    <5%
19,951
32.7
18,276
33.3
1,675
27.1
<0.0001

    5–7%
8,718
14.3
7,919
14.5
799
12.9

    8–12%
13,566
22.2
12,177
22.2
1,389
22.5

    >12%
18,767
30.8
16,446
30.0
2,321
37.5

Type of geographic area

    Large metropolitan
34,481
56.5
31,090
56.7
3,391
54.8
<0.0001

    Metropolitan
17,568
28.8
15,840
28.9
1,728
27.9

    Urban
3,674
6.0
3,242
5.9
432
7.0

    Less urban/rural
5,279
8.7
4,646
8.5
633
10.2

3.1. Undetected Comorbidity

Among the 6,184 patients with ≥1 undetected comorbidity, there were a total of 7,593 conditions. The most common were COPD (33% [2,023/6,184] of patients), CHF (18%), diabetes (18% without complications; 4% with complications), myocardial infarction (14%), and CVD (10%). In multivariable logistic regression, factors associated with having ≥1 undetected condition were older age, ≥1 comorbidity detected prior to cancer, ≥1 indicator of poor performance status, advanced stage, histological grade, living in a census tract with more poverty, and living in an urban area. Other race/ethnicity (compared to white) and later year of cancer diagnosis were associated with lower odds of having ≥1 undetected condition (Table 2).

Table 2: Risk of undetected comorbidity.

OR
95% CI
value

Lower
Upper

Age at cancer diagnosis (years)

    66–70
Reference category

    71–75
1.12
1.02
1.22
0.02

    76–80
1.28
1.17
1.39
<0.0001

    >80
1.53
1.41
1.66
<0.0001

Race/ethnicity

    White
Reference category

    Black
1.04
0.94
1.16
0.41

    Hispanic
0.94
0.81
1.08
0.39

    Other
0.83
0.71
0.97
0.02

Year of cancer diagnosis

    2001
Reference category

    2002
0.99
0.91
1.07
0.75

    2003
0.98
0.90
1.07
0.68

    2004
0.93
0.85
1.01
0.08

    2005
0.92
0.84
1.00
0.05

Index of prior comorbidity score (NCI Comorbidity Index)

    0
Reference category

    1
1.20
1.13
1.28
<0.0001

    ≥2
1.50
1.38
1.63
<0.0001

Indicators of poor performance

    0
Reference category

    ≥1
1.30
1.21
1.40
<0.0001

Stage at diagnosis

Reference category

    I
1.66
1.49
1.85
<0.0001

    II
2.40
2.15
2.67
<0.0001

    III
3.26
2.87
3.71
<0.0001

    IV
5.51
4.85
6.26
<0.0001

Histological grade

    Well differentiated
Reference category

    Moderately differentiated
1.11
1.02
1.20
0.01

    Poorly differentiated
1.15
1.05
1.26
<0.01

    Undifferentiated/anaplastic
1.25
1.05
1.50
0.01

    Missing/unknown
1.14
1.03
1.27
0.01

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status

    ER and PR negative
Reference category

    ER or PR positive
1.05
0.94
1.16
0.39

    ER and PR positive
1.00
0.92
1.09
1.00

    Unknown/missing
1.14
1.03
1.27
0.01

Percent in census tract with some college

    <25%
Reference category

    ≥25%
0.99
0.93
1.05
0.70

Percent in census tract living in poverty

    <5%
Reference category

    5–7%
1.07
0.98
1.17
0.12

    8–12%
1.17
1.08
1.27
<0.0001

    >12%
1.34
1.25
1.45
<0.0001

Type of geographic area

    Large metropolitan
Reference category

    Metropolitan
0.97
0.91
1.04
0.42

    Urban
1.14
1.02
1.28
0.02

    Less urban/rural
1.09
0.99
1.20
0.08

OR: Odds Ratio; CI: Confidence Interval.

3.2. Chemotherapy

In multivariable analysis, undetected comorbidity was associated with lower adjusted odds of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.81, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.73–0.90, ; OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.30–0.49, , for undetected comorbidity index score 1 or ≥2, resp.) (Table 3). Other factors associated with lower odds were older age, later year of diagnosis, having ≥2 conditions detected prior to cancer, being either estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive, and living in a census tract with >12% poverty. Factors associated with higher odds included advanced stage and higher grade.

Table 3: Adjuvant chemotherapy.

OR
95% CI
value

Lower
Upper

Age at cancer diagnosis (years)

    66–70
Reference category

    71–75
0.55
0.51
0.59
<0.0001

    76–80
0.25
0.23
0.27
<0.0001

    >80
0.05
0.04
0.05
<0.0001

Race/ethnicity

    White
Reference category

    Black
0.94
0.84
1.05
0.27

    Hispanic
1.15
0.99
1.32
0.06

    Other
1.13
0.98
1.31
0.10

Year of cancer diagnosis

    2001
Reference category

    2002
0.95
0.87
1.04
0.26

    2003
0.86
0.79
0.94
<0.001

    2004
0.88
0.80
0.96
<0.01

    2005
0.79
0.72
0.86
<0.0001

Index of prior comorbidity score (NCI Comorbidity Index)

    0
Reference category

    1
0.96
0.90
1.03
0.28

    ≥2
0.74
0.66
0.82
<0.0001

Index of undetected comorbidity score

    0
Reference category

    1
0.81
0.73
0.90
<0.0001

    ≥2
0.38
0.30
0.49
<0.0001

Indicators of poor performance

    0
Reference category

    ≥1
0.56
0.51
0.62
<0.0001

Stage at diagnosis

    I
Reference category

    II
8.73
8.17
9.34
<0.0001

    III
21.87
19.83
24.12
<0.0001

Histological grade

    Well differentiated
Reference category

    Moderately differentiated
1.58
1.44
1.72
<0.0001

    Poorly differentiated
2.54
2.31
2.79
<0.0001

    Undifferentiated/anaplastic
2.01
1.60
2.53
<0.0001

    Missing/unknown
1.51
1.33
1.71
<0.0001

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status

    ER and PR negative
Reference category

    Either ER or PR positive
0.32
0.29
0.35
<0.0001

    Both ER and PR positive
0.24
0.22
0.26
<0.0001

    Unknown/missing
0.30
0.27
0.34
<0.0001

Percent in census tract with some college

    <25%
Reference category

    ≥25%
1.02
0.95
1.08
0.65

Percent in census tract living in poverty

    <5%
Reference category

    5–7%
0.93
0.85
1.02
0.13

    8–12%
0.93
0.86
1.01
0.08

    >12%
0.91
0.84
0.98
0.01

Type of geographic area

    Large metropolitan
Reference category

    Metropolitan
1.12
1.05
1.20
<0.01

    Urban
1.14
1.01
1.29
0.03

    Less urban/rural
1.06
0.95
1.18
0.32

OR: Odds Ratio; CI: Confidence Interval.

3.3. Survival

Overall, there were 13,208 (22% of cohort) deaths: 5,191 (39% of all deaths) due to cancer; 5,823 (44%) due to other causes; and (17%) unspecified. Among those with ≥1 undetected comorbidity, 42% (2,575) died during the observation period compared to 19% (10,633) of those with no undetected conditions, and the unadjusted mortality rate was significantly higher () (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Unadjusted Survival.

In multivariable survival analysis, having undetected comorbidity was associated with increased all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.45, 95% CI 1.38–1.53, ; HR = 2.38, 95% CI 2.18–2.60, , for undetected comorbidity index score 1 or ≥2, resp.), cancer mortality (HR = 1.32 and HR = 1.67 for score 1 or ≥2), and other-cause mortality (HR = 1.58 and HR = 3.31 for score 1 or ≥2) (Table 4). In most instances, coefficients for undetected comorbidity were comparable to or larger than those for comorbidity detected prior to cancer.

Table 4: Survival.

All-cause mortality
Cancer mortality
Other-cause mortality

HR
95% CI
value
HR
95% CI
value
HR
95% CI
value

Lower
Upper

Lower
Upper

Lower
Upper

Age at cancer diagnosis (years)

    66–70
Reference category

    71–75
1.34
1.25
1.44
<0.0001
1.27
1.15
1.40
<0.0001
1.55
1.36
1.75
<0.0001

    76–80
1.80
1.68
1.93
<0.0001
1.47
1.34
1.62
<0.0001
2.39
2.12
2.69
<0.0001

    >80
3.41
3.20
3.63
<0.0001
2.08
1.90
2.28
<0.0001
5.74
5.15
6.41
<0.0001

Race/ethnicity

    White
Reference category

    Black
1.04
0.97
1.11
0.26
0.91
0.81
1.02
0.09
0.89
0.79
0.99
0.03

    Hispanic
0.82
0.74
0.91
<0.01
0.96
0.83
1.12
0.62
0.89
0.76
1.03
0.12

    Other
0.79
0.71
0.88
<0.0001
0.94
0.79
1.11
0.45
0.74
0.63
0.89
<0.01

Year of cancer diagnosis

    2001
Reference category

    2002
0.99
0.94
1.04
0.63
0.98
0.90
1.07
0.67
0.99
0.92
1.06
0.67

    2003
0.97
0.92
1.02
0.26
1.00
0.91
1.09
0.91
0.88
0.82
0.96
<0.01

    2004
0.91
0.86
0.97
<0.01
0.90
0.82
0.99
0.03
0.87
0.79
0.95
<0.01

    2005
0.93
0.87
1.00
0.04
0.95
0.86
1.06
0.34
0.83
0.75
0.92
<0.01

Index of prior comorbidity score (NCI Comorbidity Index)

    0
Reference category

    1
1.45
1.39
1.52
<0.0001
1.18
1.10
1.27
<0.0001
1.79
1.68
1.91
<0.0001

    ≥2
2.05
1.95
2.16
<0.0001
1.34
1.22
1.47
<0.0001
2.86
2.66
3.07
<0.0001

Index of undetected comorbidity score

    0
Reference category

    1
1.45
1.38
1.53
<0.0001
1.32
1.21
1.43
<0.0001
1.58
1.46
1.71
<0.0001

    ≥2
2.38
2.18
2.60
<0.0001
1.67
1.43
1.95
<0.0001
3.31
2.94
3.73
<0.0001

Indicators of poor performance

    0
Reference category

    ≥1
1.80
1.72
1.88
<0.0001
1.41
1.31
1.53
<0.0001
2.15
2.02
2.29
<0.0001

Stage at diagnosis

Reference category

    I
1.79
1.66
1.94
<0.0001
2.66
2.21
3.20
<0.0001
1.44
1.31
1.60
<0.0001

    II
2.95
2.73
3.19
<0.0001
7.88
6.59
9.41
<0.0001
1.81
1.63
2.01
<0.0001

    III
6.03
5.52
6.58
<0.0001
22.08
18.37
26.54
<0.0001
2.52
2.21
2.86
<0.0001

    IV
16.72
15.33
18.23
<0.0001
85.67
71.62
102.47
<0.0001
2.62
2.21
3.10
<0.0001

Histological grade

    Well differentiated
Reference category

    Moderately differentiated
1.11
1.05
1.18
<0.01
1.37
1.22
1.54
<0.0001
1.06
0.98
1.14
0.13

    Poorly differentiated
1.47
1.39
1.56
<0.0001
2.28
2.02
2.56
<0.0001
1.14
1.05
1.24
<0.01

    Undifferentiated/anaplastic
1.38
1.23
1.56
<0.0001
2.24
1.83
2.74
<0.0001
0.92
0.76
1.11
0.38

    Missing/unknown
1.30
1.22
1.40
<0.0001
1.82
1.60
2.07
<0.0001
1.13
1.02
1.24
0.02

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor status

    ER and PR negative
Reference category

    Either ER or PR positive
0.69
0.65
0.74
<0.0001
0.60
0.54
0.65
<0.0001
0.91
0.81
1.01
0.07

    Both ER and PR positive
0.64
0.60
0.67
<0.0001
0.44
0.40
0.47
<0.0001
0.96
0.87
1.05
0.36

    Unknown/missing
0.87
0.82
0.93
<0.0001
0.72
0.66
0.79
<0.0001
1.13
1.02
1.26
0.02

Percent in census tract with some college

    <25%
Reference category

    ≥25%
1.03
0.99
1.07
0.15
1.05
0.99
1.12
0.09
1.08
1.02
1.15
0.01

Percent in census tract living in poverty

    <5%
Reference category

    5–7%
1.10
1.03
1.16
<0.01
1.11
1.01
1.21
0.03
1.08
0.99
1.17
0.08

    8–12%
1.06
1.01
1.12
0.03
0.98
0.90
1.06
0.59
1.03
0.96
1.11
0.40

    >12%
1.18
1.12
1.24
<0.0001
1.05
0.97
1.14
0.25
1.06
0.99
1.14
0.10

Type of geographic area

    Large metropolitan
Reference category

    Metropolitan
1.07
1.03
1.12
<0.01
0.99
0.92
1.06
0.70
0.99
0.93
1.05
0.71

    Urban
0.97
0.89
1.05
0.38
0.81
0.70
0.93
<0.01
0.76
0.67
0.86
<0.0001

    Less urban/rural
1.07
1.00
1.14
0.05
1.03
0.93
1.15
0.56
1.03
0.94
1.14
0.55

HR: Hazard Ratio; CI: Confidence Interval.

3.4. Models with versus without Previously Detected Comorbidity

There was little difference in the magnitude and significance of the coefficients for the previously undetected comorbidity for multivariable models that included versus excluded prior comorbidity as a covariable. For instance, the coefficients for the chemotherapy model were 0.80 and 0.37 for undetected comorbidity scores of 1 and ≥2, respectively, in the model that excluded prior comorbidity compared to 0.81 and 0.38 in the model that included prior comorbidity (Table 3).

4. Discussion

We conducted an observational cohort study using SEER-Medicare to describe risk factors for comorbidity that remained undetected until breast cancer and to assess the added impact of undetected comorbidity on breast cancer treatment and outcomes. Advanced age, later stage diagnosis, poor performance status, presence of comorbidity identified prior to cancer, and poverty all were associated with increased risk of undetected comorbidity. The strong monotonic association with cancer stage, as well as the association with poverty, suggests the existence of shared risk factors, such as poor health system contact prior to cancer diagnosis, [30, 31] resulting in delayed detection of both cancer and other underlying chronic conditions including COPD, CHF, and diabetes. One important implication of our study is that those with other established risk factors for poor outcomes in breast cancer, including advanced age, later stage, and poor performance status, also are at greatest risk for undetected comorbidity.

Patients with undetected comorbidity were less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, the effect sizes were larger for undetected comorbidity than for comorbidity detected prior to cancer. For example the Odds Ratio for an undetected comorbidity index score ≥2 was 0.38 compared to 0.74 for a score ≥2 on the index of conditions prior to cancer. Since identification of conditions was based on claims for medical services, one hypothesis is that undetected conditions were more severe because they had not been treated. Others have speculated that one way comorbidity can influence treatment and outcomes in cancer is by distracting the healthcare team from the appropriate management of both [32] cancer and other conditions. The fact that effect sizes were larger for undetected conditions suggest that these may pose greater challenges for the healthcare team than those that have a history of being treated prior to cancer.

Undetected comorbidity also was associated with increased overall cancer and other-cause mortality. The impact on other-cause mortality was larger than on cancer mortality. However, all six HRs in the three survival analyses were highly statistically significant, and, in general, HRs for undetected comorbidity were larger than those for comorbidity detected prior to cancer. Again, this supports the hypothesis that undetected comorbidity may be more severe and that it may pose greater challenges to the healthcare team than conditions appearing in claims and, by implication, treated prior to cancer.

It is likely that the impact of undetected comorbidity on cancer mortality is partially explained by its direct impact on the likelihood of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The link between adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in breast cancer is well established, and adjuvant chemotherapy was not included in our survival analyses to avoid over adjustment of the models.

Our study has several limitations. First, as discussed above, we cannot rule out the possibility that unobserved factors may have confounded observed associations between the presence of undetected comorbidity and several of the observed risk factors, notably cancer stage at diagnosis. Second, both comorbidity indices in our study are based on claims and consequently have less-than-perfect sensitivity and specificity for the conditions of interest. Therefore, conditions that simply were not found in claims prior to cancer due to limitations of the algorithms in the NCI Comorbidity Index, but which actually had been detected and possibly treated at an earlier date, may have been misclassified as undetected. Third, since SEER includes only the month and not the day of cancer diagnosis, we elected to assign the first day of the month as the date of cancer diagnosis. Had we elected to assign the last day of the month, all conditions classified as previously undetected by virtue of first appearing in the month of cancer diagnosis would have been reclassified as previously detected.

5. Conclusions

Limitations notwithstanding, our findings indicate that those patients with established risk factors for poor outcomes in breast cancer, including advanced age, later stage, and poor performance status, also are at greatest risk for undetected comorbidity. Furthermore, undetected comorbidity appears to confer greater additional risk of poor outcomes than comorbidity detected prior to cancer, suggesting that it may be more severe and that it may pose additional challenges to the healthcare team. However, these hypotheses would require further investigation.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This study used the linked SEER-Medicare database. The interpretation and reporting of these data are the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors acknowledge the efforts of the Applied Research Program, NCI; the Office of Research, Development and Information, CMS; Information Management Services (IMS), Inc.; and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program tumor registries in the creation of the SEER-Medicare database. Editorial assistance in this paper was provided by Kim Merjan and Suzanne Griffiths.

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