Retrospective analysis reveals worsening inpatient financial toxicity in women with breast cancer, highlighting urban disparity factors.
Key Points
This study aims to evaluate trends in inpatient financial toxicity among women hospitalized for breast cancer and identify associated factors.
Retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2013 to 2022
Included women aged ≥18 years with a breast cancer diagnosis
Used weighted regression to assess trends and survey-weighted logistic regression to identify predictors of high financial toxicity.
Estimated 1.70 million weighted hospitalizations with significant decline from 2013 to 2022 (P for trend <0.001)
Inflation-adjusted charges increased by 35.5%, reaching $79,797 by 2022 (P for trend <0.001)
High financial toxicity odds were significantly higher in urban teaching hospitals (OR 3.84) and for minority groups, with increasing trends observed over time (peak in 2020, OR 1.58, P for trend <0.001).