Abstract 7389: Examining ovarian cancer disparities: The influence of demographics, insurance coverage, and travel distance on survival outcomes

Abstract Background: Ovarian cancer continues to be a devastating disease despite advancements in medicine. Significant disparities in care and outcomes exist, particularly among marginalized populations, due to limited healthcare access and the considerable impact of travel distance. Patients in remote or underserved areas often face delays in diagnosis and treatment, adversely affecting survival rates. This study underscores the critical need for ongoing research into early detection methods and personalized treatment strategies, aiming to enhance survival rates and quality of life for ovarian cancer patients while addressing barriers to equitable healthcare access. Methods: For the national-level analysis, data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized, focusing on ovarian cancer patients in the East South-Central region treated at Academic/Research programs, diagnosed between 2004 and 2017, with a minimum of five years of follow-up. At the local level, data was sourced from the Tumor Registry at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. Travel distance in the O'Neal data was determined using zip codes and categorized into tertiles—short, intermediate, and long distances. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with five-year mortality, adjusting for distance, demographics, cancer stage, and insurance status at the national level. Results: Both national and local analyses revealed that being Black, older age, and having a higher cancer stage were associated with poorer odds of survival. Nationally, Medicaid recipients (vs. those with private insurance) had worse survival odds. Travel distance was not significantly associated with five-year mortality in the South at the national level. However, data from O’Neal showed that among ovarian cancer patients diagnosed from 2006-2015, longer travel distance was associated with lower five-year mortality compared to those with shorter travel distances to the treatment center. Discussion: Ovarian cancer remains a lethal disease with significant disparities, affecting Black patients, older individuals, and Medicaid recipients the most. While travel distance did not impact survival rates nationally, the O'Neal data revealed an unexpected association between longer travel distances and better survival rates, likely due to access to specialized care. These findings highlight the urgent need for equitable healthcare access and continued research to improve early detection and treatment strategies. Citation Format: Sejong Bae. Examining ovarian cancer disparities: The influence of demographics, insurance coverage, and travel distance on survival outcomes [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 7389.