The effect of social determinants of health on utilization of surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Background: A paucity of data exists on how social determinants of health (SDOH) influence treatment for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated associations between SDOH (healthcare access, education, social/community context, economic stability, and built/neighborhood environment) and receipt of surgery. Methods: The Pennsylvania Liver Cancer Registry was linked with neighborhood SDOH from the American Community Survey. Multilevel logistic regression models with patient and neighborhood SDOH variables were developed. Results: Of 9423 HCC patients, 2393 were stage I. Only 36.3% of stage I patients received surgery. Black patients had significantly lower odds of surgery vs Whites (OR = 0.73; p < 0.01), but not after adjustments for SDOH. All 5 SDOH domains were associated with odds of surgery overall; 2 domains were associated in Stage I patients, social context (e.g., racial concentration, p = 0.03) and insurance access (p < 0.01). Conclusions: SDOH impact utilization of surgery for HCC. Findings can guide healthcare professionals to create programs for populations at risk for poor liver cancer outcomes.