Retrospective cohort study of outcomes among patients with colon cancer living in neighborhoods with persistent poverty

Patients with cancer living in persistent poverty are at risk for worse oncologic outcomes. Existing welfare interventions typically focus on current poverty and may not benefit patients in persistent poverty if the underlying mechanisms are unique. In a retrospective cohort study of 20,015 California residents diagnosed with colon cancer between 2017 and 2022, living in an area with higher density of persistent poverty was associated with higher overall mortality and higher disease-specific mortality rates. After adjusting for receipt of guideline-concordant care, the association was no longer apparent. The authors conclude that these findings suggest that increasing the receipt of guideline-concordant care may improve oncologic outcomes for patients with colon cancer living in areas with persistent poverty.