Survival difference due to types of health coverage in breast cancer patients treated at a specialized cancer center in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

The study aimed to estimate the effect of health insurance on overall survival and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery at the Las Américas Oncology Institute in Medellín, Colombia, with data from the institutional registry. The variables were compared between subsidized coverage and contributive coverage with chi-squared test (χ2) or Student t test, Kaplan-Meier, and log-rank test. The target variable was adjusted with Cox regression. There were 2,732 patients with a median follow-up of 36 months. Ten percent of the women with contributive coverage died, compared to 23% of the subsidized coverage group. There were differences in time-to-treatment (contributive group with 52 days versus subsidized group with 112 days, p < 0.05). Disease-free survival and overall survival were better in women with contributive coverage compared to those with subsidized coverage (p < 0.05), and overall survival varied according to tumor and treatment variables. Overall survival and disease-free survival and early time-to-diagnosis and treatment were better in patients with contributive coverage compared to those with subsidized coverage.