To evaluate the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and head and neck cancer-specific quality-of-life (QOL) scores in patients prior to treatment.
Approach:
Key Findings:
Patients in the most disadvantaged ADI quintile had lower head and neck cancer-specific well-being scores compared to those in the least disadvantaged quintile (adjusted difference of -3.62 points; 95% CI, -6.23 to -1.01).
Greater neighborhood disadvantage was associated with lower reported ability to eat preferred foods and swallow easily.
No clinically meaningful adjusted associations were observed between ADI quintile and overall well-being scores (β = -7.40; 95% CI, -14.81 to 0.01).
Interpretation:
Quality-of-life differences among head and neck cancer patients may begin prior to treatment, but causation cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design.
Limitations:
Results may not be generalizable due to the single-institution study design.
Missing data for chemotherapy recommendation and education level may affect results.
Reliance on neighborhood-level socioeconomic data rather than patient-level data.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the potential impact of neighborhood deprivation on QOL in head and neck cancer patients.
Older age, male sex, underweight status, reduced activities of daily living, and mild consciousness disturbance were associated with postextubation pneumonia in elective surgical patients.
