Demographic risk factors impacting timely radiation therapy completion after breast conserving surgery

• We studied stage I and II breast cancer patients with breast conserving treatment.
• We examined disparities in quality of radiation therapy duration.
• There were no differences in average days of treatment across races.
• Disparities do exist in frequency of failure to complete radiation in quality time.
• Race, age, and insurance impact quality of completion of radiation therapy.

BackgroundRadiotherapy completion (RTC) is critical to successful breast conserving treatment. Our aim was to identify patient groups at greatest risk of not achieving timely radiotherapy completion (TRTC) in an urban setting.MethodsThis observational cohort study used hospital registry data from 2004 to 2010 for female stage I and II breast conserving treatment patients to assess predictors of RTC and TRTC, defined as RTC of 35 to 49 days.ResultsTwo hundred sixty-one patients were analyzed. There was no difference in mean days to RTC by ethnicity (black 46.8, white 46.4, Hispanic 48.1 days, P = .75) or total RTC (black 88.2%, white 97.9%, Hispanic 93.3%, P = .09). However, a substantial difference was seen in TRTC by ethnicity (black 51.8%, white 79.2%, Hispanic 57.8%, P = .03). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of failure to achieve TRTC found associations with black race (odds ratio [OR] 2.67), Medicare (OR 3.46), Medicaid (OR 2.19), and age less than 50 years (OR 4.13).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates high overall percentage RTC but demonstrates disparities in TRTC. Those at greatest risk of unsuccessful TRTC were younger, Medicare or Medicaid insured, and black race.