Search

PurposeWe examined associations between experiences of care and adherence to surveillance guidelines among Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries with colorectal cancer (CRC).MethodsUsing linked data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End results (SEER) cancer registry program and the Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) patient experience surveys (SEER-CAHPS), we identified local/regional CRC survivors diagnosed in 1999-2009 aged 65+, who underwent surgical resection and completed a CAHPS survey

Several studies have reported bidirectional inverse associations between cancer and Alzheimer's disease ( AD) . This study evaluates these relationships in a Medicare population. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results ( SEER) linked to Medicare data, 1992-2005, we evaluated cancer risks following AD in a case-control study of 836,947 cancer cases and 142,869 controls as well as AD risk after cancer in 742,809 cancer patients and a non-cancer group of 420,518. We applied unconditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios ( ORs) and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazards ratios ( HRs). We also evaluated cancer in relation to automobile injuries as a negative control to explore potential study biases. In the case-control analysis, cancer cases were less likely to have a prior diagnosis of AD than controls ( OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.81-0.92). Cancer cases were also less likely than controls to have prior injuries from automobile accidents to the same degree ( OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.78-0.88). In the prospective cohort, there was a lower risk observed in cancer survivors, HR = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.84-0.90). In contrast, there was no association between cancer diagnosis and subsequent automobile accident injuries ( HR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.98-1.07). That cancer risks were similarly reduced after both AD and automobile injuries suggest biases against detecting cancer in persons with unrelated medical conditions. The modestly lower AD risk in cancer survivors may reflect underdiagnosis of AD in those with a serious illness. This study does not support a relationship between cancer and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies suggest that cancer is reduced before and after a Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis. However, determining relationships among diseases of ageing is challenging due to possible biases in ascertaining disease. This study evaluates the PD and cancer relationship, addressing potential biases.Methods: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data (1992-2005) of adults ≥ 65 years, we assessed PD risk after cancer comparing PD in 743 779 cancer patients with PD in a non-cancer group (n = 419 432) in prospective cohort analyses. We also conducted a case-control study of 836 947 cancer cases and 142 869 controls to assess cancer following PD. We applied Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) for PD after cancer and unconditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for PD preceding cancer, controlling for physician visits and other factors. To explore biases in ascertaining cancer, we examined relationships between cancer and automobile accident injuries, which we expected to be null.Results: No association was observed between cancer and subsequent PD [HR = 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.92-1.01] nor between cancer and subsequent automobile injuries (HR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.98-1.07). One site, lung cancer, was associated with subsequent reduced PD, which may reflect confounding by smoking. In the case-control analysis, PD was associated with reduced subsequent cancer, overall (OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.71-0.82) and for several cancer sites. However, the automobile injury/ subsequent cancer association was similar (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.78-0.88), suggesting a cancer detection bias after serious health outcomes.Conclusions: In totality, our data do not support a biological relationship between PD and cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a study which investigated the incidence of thyroid cancer among active duty U.S. military personnel for the period 1990-2004. Comparisons were made for incidence in the military and in the general population. It concludes that differences between the military and the general population cannot be fully explained by heightened medical surveillance.