Abstract 6189: Educational level as a determinant of breast cancer stage at diagnosis

Abstract Background: Presently, there is a gap in literature regarding specific demographic characteristics and the stage of breast cancer at diagnosis. Herein, we examined patients' educational levels to explore effective strategies for early breast cancer diagnosis. Methods: Convenience sampling method was used to select invasive breast cancer patients treated at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou between January 2018 and March 2023 to determine patients' breast cancer stage at diagnosis and individual characteristics. The associations were analyzed using Student's t-test and the chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the odds ratios (ORs) for the occurrence of late-stage breast cancer. Results: The study encompassed a total of 3225 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Among them, 707 patients were identified with late-stage cancer (stage III-IV), comprising 21.9% of the total sample. Univariate analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between patients' educational level and the stage of breast cancer at diagnosis, regardless of age stratification. The results of the chi-square test revealed a significant correlation between patients' educational level and their perception of illness (P < 0.001), with patients with higher levels of education being more likely to demonstrate a more comprehensive understanding of the disease. Upon controlling for other potential confounding variables, these findings were confirmed by binary logistic regression analysis, which demonstrated that individuals with lower education levels had a significantly increased likelihood of being diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer (adjusted OR = 1.409 for the middle school group and 1.518 for the illiterate and primary school group). Conclusions: Patients with lower educational levels could be more likely to present with late-stage breast cancer at diagnosis. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize popular science and early prevention strategies for breast cancer among less educated populations. Citation Format: Xiaying Kuang. Educational level as a determinant of breast cancer stage at diagnosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 6189.