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A new study suggests that higher healthcare spending is not associated with better cancer outcomes in the US, but state-level wealth is.
Researchers found that higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was associated with lower mortality for all cancers, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
However, higher healthcare spending was only associated with lower mortality for breast cancer—not colorectal cancer or all cancers combined.
Jad Chahoud, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and his colleagues reported these findings in JNCCN.
To investigate the implications of socioeconomic status and health expenditures on cancer outcomes, the researchers conducted an ecological study at the state level for 3 distinct patient populations: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and all-cancer patients.
The team extracted data on GDP and healthcare spending per capita from the 2009 Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.
Using data from the National Cancer Institute, the researchers retrieved breast, colorectal, and all-cancer age-adjusted rates and computed mortality/incidence (M/I) ratios for each population.
The team found that higher GDP per capita was significantly associated with lower M/I ratios for all cancers (rho=–0.4406; P=0.0017), breast cancer (rho=–0.3605; P=0.0118), and colorectal cancer (rho=–0.3612; P=0.0117).
But higher healthcare spending was only associated with a lower M/I ratio for breast cancer (rho=–0.4237; P=0.0027).
In a related editorial, Melissa A. Simon, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, and her colleagues pointed out that the data in this study predate the Affordable Care Act. So the results may not reflect the current state of affairs in the US.
The authors also said these data should not be used to guide—or misguide—policy makers to cap or decrease spending for certain health issues.
“Increased spending does not necessarily improve quality of care, but capping or cutting spending on healthcare does not necessarily solve problems either,” the authors wrote.
In a counterpoint editorial, Dr Chahoud and his colleagues said the goal of their study was not to misguide policy makers.
The team doesn’t recommend capping healthcare spending. Rather, they want to see “smart” spending that will have an impact on patient outcomes. 
receiving treatment
Photo by Rhoda Baer
A new study suggests that higher healthcare spending is not associated with better cancer outcomes in the US, but state-level wealth is.
Researchers found that higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was associated with lower mortality for all cancers, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
However, higher healthcare spending was only associated with lower mortality for breast cancer—not colorectal cancer or all cancers combined.
Jad Chahoud, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and his colleagues reported these findings in JNCCN.
To investigate the implications of socioeconomic status and health expenditures on cancer outcomes, the researchers conducted an ecological study at the state level for 3 distinct patient populations: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and all-cancer patients.
The team extracted data on GDP and healthcare spending per capita from the 2009 Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.
Using data from the National Cancer Institute, the researchers retrieved breast, colorectal, and all-cancer age-adjusted rates and computed mortality/incidence (M/I) ratios for each population.
The team found that higher GDP per capita was significantly associated with lower M/I ratios for all cancers (rho=–0.4406; P=0.0017), breast cancer (rho=–0.3605; P=0.0118), and colorectal cancer (rho=–0.3612; P=0.0117).
But higher healthcare spending was only associated with a lower M/I ratio for breast cancer (rho=–0.4237; P=0.0027).
In a related editorial, Melissa A. Simon, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, and her colleagues pointed out that the data in this study predate the Affordable Care Act. So the results may not reflect the current state of affairs in the US.
The authors also said these data should not be used to guide—or misguide—policy makers to cap or decrease spending for certain health issues.
“Increased spending does not necessarily improve quality of care, but capping or cutting spending on healthcare does not necessarily solve problems either,” the authors wrote.
In a counterpoint editorial, Dr Chahoud and his colleagues said the goal of their study was not to misguide policy makers.
The team doesn’t recommend capping healthcare spending. Rather, they want to see “smart” spending that will have an impact on patient outcomes.
receiving treatment
Photo by Rhoda Baer
A new study suggests that higher healthcare spending is not associated with better cancer outcomes in the US, but state-level wealth is.
Researchers found that higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was associated with lower mortality for all cancers, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
However, higher healthcare spending was only associated with lower mortality for breast cancer—not colorectal cancer or all cancers combined.
Jad Chahoud, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and his colleagues reported these findings in JNCCN.
To investigate the implications of socioeconomic status and health expenditures on cancer outcomes, the researchers conducted an ecological study at the state level for 3 distinct patient populations: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and all-cancer patients.
The team extracted data on GDP and healthcare spending per capita from the 2009 Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.
Using data from the National Cancer Institute, the researchers retrieved breast, colorectal, and all-cancer age-adjusted rates and computed mortality/incidence (M/I) ratios for each population.
The team found that higher GDP per capita was significantly associated with lower M/I ratios for all cancers (rho=–0.4406; P=0.0017), breast cancer (rho=–0.3605; P=0.0118), and colorectal cancer (rho=–0.3612; P=0.0117).
But higher healthcare spending was only associated with a lower M/I ratio for breast cancer (rho=–0.4237; P=0.0027).
In a related editorial, Melissa A. Simon, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, and her colleagues pointed out that the data in this study predate the Affordable Care Act. So the results may not reflect the current state of affairs in the US.
The authors also said these data should not be used to guide—or misguide—policy makers to cap or decrease spending for certain health issues.
“Increased spending does not necessarily improve quality of care, but capping or cutting spending on healthcare does not necessarily solve problems either,” the authors wrote.
In a counterpoint editorial, Dr Chahoud and his colleagues said the goal of their study was not to misguide policy makers.
The team doesn’t recommend capping healthcare spending. Rather, they want to see “smart” spending that will have an impact on patient outcomes.