Health Behavior Differences between African-American and White Breast Cancer Survivors
Publication Date
July 2019
Location
LSU Health Medical Education Building
Document Type
Abstract
Start Date
26-7-2019 9:00 AM
End Date
26-7-2019 12:00 PM
Description
Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. African- American women with breast cancer suffer worse clinical outcomes than White women with breast cancer. For example, the median age of breast cancer diagnosis in the US is younger for African-American women than White women, with a median age of 59 and 63, respectively. Additionally, in 2015, breast cancer death rates were 39% higher in African-American women compared to White women. In order to reduce the racial disparity of breast cancer mortality, it is essential to understand demographic and health behavior differences between different racial groups. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate differences in selected health behaviors (physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking status) and demographic factors between African-American and White breast cancer survivors. Methodology: In this study, we analyzed data from African-American and White breast cancer survivors over the age of 18 in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) dataset from 2012- 2017. NHIS is a national dataset that routinely investigates a broad range of health topics through personal household interviews. The health behaviors of interest included physical activity (none or moderate/vigorous), alcohol consumption (never, former, current infrequent, current light/moderate, or heavy), and smoking status (never, former, or current). Other selected demographic and clinical factors included age at interview, age at breast cancer diagnosis, education status, and income status. Chi-square analysis and t-tests were used to test differences of selected demographic and health behaviors between African-American and White women for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: This study included 3,397 breast cancer survivors, of which 375 (11.0%) were African- American and 3,022 (88.9%) were White. African-American women were more likely than White women to have lower levels of physical activity (73.5% vs. 61.4% with no physical activity, respectively, chi-square test p<0.001), lower levels of alcohol consumption (1.4% vs. 5.5% heavy alcohol consumers, respectively, p<0.001), lower education levels (p<0.001), and lower income levels (p=0.027). 24% of African American women had less than a high school education. 31% had a high school education and 45% had more than a high school education. However, differences in smoking status were insignificant (10.2% vs. 9.8% current smokers, respectively, p=0.388). African-American women were younger than White women (t-test p<0.001). At the time of the interview, the average age for African American women was 66. The average age for White women was 69, so White women tended to be older. There was no statistically significant differences in age at breast cancer diagnosis were found (p=0.198). Conclusion: Our study findings showed that African American breast cancer survivors tended to have worse health behaviors and lower socioeconomic status than White breast cancer survivors. Understanding the factors that are associated with breast cancer health disparities are necessary to decrease the morbidity rate in African-American women.
Recommended Citation
Brown, Angelle L., "Health Behavior Differences between African-American and White Breast Cancer Survivors" (2019). Summer Research Internship Program. 1.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/srip/2019/hs/1
Health Behavior Differences between African-American and White Breast Cancer Survivors
LSU Health Medical Education Building
Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. African- American women with breast cancer suffer worse clinical outcomes than White women with breast cancer. For example, the median age of breast cancer diagnosis in the US is younger for African-American women than White women, with a median age of 59 and 63, respectively. Additionally, in 2015, breast cancer death rates were 39% higher in African-American women compared to White women. In order to reduce the racial disparity of breast cancer mortality, it is essential to understand demographic and health behavior differences between different racial groups. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate differences in selected health behaviors (physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking status) and demographic factors between African-American and White breast cancer survivors. Methodology: In this study, we analyzed data from African-American and White breast cancer survivors over the age of 18 in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) dataset from 2012- 2017. NHIS is a national dataset that routinely investigates a broad range of health topics through personal household interviews. The health behaviors of interest included physical activity (none or moderate/vigorous), alcohol consumption (never, former, current infrequent, current light/moderate, or heavy), and smoking status (never, former, or current). Other selected demographic and clinical factors included age at interview, age at breast cancer diagnosis, education status, and income status. Chi-square analysis and t-tests were used to test differences of selected demographic and health behaviors between African-American and White women for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: This study included 3,397 breast cancer survivors, of which 375 (11.0%) were African- American and 3,022 (88.9%) were White. African-American women were more likely than White women to have lower levels of physical activity (73.5% vs. 61.4% with no physical activity, respectively, chi-square test p<0.001), lower levels of alcohol consumption (1.4% vs. 5.5% heavy alcohol consumers, respectively, p<0.001), lower education levels (p<0.001), and lower income levels (p=0.027). 24% of African American women had less than a high school education. 31% had a high school education and 45% had more than a high school education. However, differences in smoking status were insignificant (10.2% vs. 9.8% current smokers, respectively, p=0.388). African-American women were younger than White women (t-test p<0.001). At the time of the interview, the average age for African American women was 66. The average age for White women was 69, so White women tended to be older. There was no statistically significant differences in age at breast cancer diagnosis were found (p=0.198). Conclusion: Our study findings showed that African American breast cancer survivors tended to have worse health behaviors and lower socioeconomic status than White breast cancer survivors. Understanding the factors that are associated with breast cancer health disparities are necessary to decrease the morbidity rate in African-American women.
Comments
Mentors: Tung-Sung Tseng and Hui -Yi Lin, School of Public Health