Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receiving radiation treatment at an academic center have a higher survival rate than those receiving treatment at a community center, according to a new study in Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery (December 2012, Vol. 147:6, pp. 1083-1092).
The study analyzed 355 patients with mucosal head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy at the University of Minnesota from 2002 to 2008. The study evaluated differences in patient characteristics, treatment, and cancer outcomes. Data were gathered on demographics, general medical data, tumor variables, insurance type, marital status, and health behaviors.
Of the total patients, 145 (41%) received radiation treatment at community hospitals, and 210 (59%) were treated at academic hospitals. Within the academic hospitals group, 197 underwent radiation at the University of Minnesota, and 13 received radiation at an alternative academic center.
Both treatment groups shared similar characteristics in regard to sex, comorbidity, marital status, work status, insurance, and alcohol use. However, the community group had more current smokers and slightly older patients on average. Patients in the academic group were more likely to live in an urban location and had a higher median income. Patients undergoing radiation treatment at university centers had significantly more advanced cancer.
After adjusting for these differences in patient characteristics, patients in the academic hospitals had about two-thirds the risk of dying compared with those in the community hospitals, the researchers reported. The five-year survival rate was 53% for patients treated in academic centers, compared with 33% for patients treated in community settings.
"Despite similar rates of treatment completion and rate of treatment breaks between groups, patients treated in academic centers had more advanced cancer but better survival," the authors wrote.
More subtle differences in treatment administration and support at academic centers need to be investigated to understand the survival differences, they added. Potential disparities in care related to income, socioeconomic status, and geography also should be further explored.
