TOPLINE:

Patients treated for prostate cancer had higher rates of complications, including urinary and sexual issues, than a control group of men. Radiotherapy increases the risk for bladder cancer and radiation-specific complications, according to the new cohort study.
 

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a cohort study to try to characterize long-term treatment-related adverse effects and complications in patients treated for prostate cancer, compared with a general population of older males.
• They used data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, linked with Medicare claims. A total of 29,196 participants were included in the study’s control group. Of 3946 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, 655 were treated with prostatectomy, and 1056 were treated with radiotherapy.
• Participants were followed for a median of 10.2 years, with specific follow-up durations being 10.5 years and 8.5 years for the prostatectomy and radiotherapy groups, respectively.
• The study analyzed ten potential treatment-related complications using Medicare claims data, including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and secondary cancers. 
• Multivariable Cox regression was used to adjust for age, race, and year of time-at-risk initiation, with stratification by study and intervention arm. 

TAKEAWAY:

• At 12 years, there was a 7.23 increase in hazard risk for urinary or sexual complications for patients who had prostatectomy, compared with controls (P < .001).
• Radiotherapy-treated patients had a nearly three times greater hazard risk for bladder cancer and a 100-fold increased hazard risk for radiation-specific complications, such as radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis (P < .001).
• The incidence of any treatment-related complication per 1000 person-years was 124.26 for prostatectomy, 62.15 for radiotherapy, and 23.61 for untreated participants.
• The authors stated that these findings highlight the importance of patient counseling before prostate cancer screening and treatment.

IN PRACTICE:

“We found that, after accounting for baseline population rates, most patients with PCA undergoing treatment experience complications associated with worse quality of life and/or new health risks. The magnitude of these risks, compared with the relatively small benefit found by randomized clinical trials of PCA screening and treatment, should be explicitly reflected in national cancer screening and treatment guidelines and be integral to shared decision-making with patients before initiation of PSA screening, biopsy, or PCA treatment,” wrote the authors of the study.
 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Joseph M. Unger, PhD, SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. It was published online on November 7, 2024, in JAMA Oncology.
 

LIMITATIONS:

The study did not account for multiple comparisons, which may affect the statistical significance of some findings. Claims data are subject to misclassification and may underreport complications that are not reported to a physician. The study did not differentiate among strategies of prostatectomy or radiotherapy, which may result in different patterns of complications. The cohort comprised men enrolled in large, randomized prevention trials, which may limit the generalizability of the incidence estimates. Confounding by unknown factors cannot be ruled out, affecting the attribution of risks to prostate cancer treatment alone.
 

DISCLOSURES:

Unger disclosed consulting fees from AstraZeneca and Loxo/Lilly outside the submitted work. One coauthor reported grants from the US National Cancer Institute during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor reported employment with Flatiron Health at the time of manuscript submission and review. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Patients treated for prostate cancer had higher rates of complications, including urinary and sexual issues, than a control group of men. Radiotherapy increases the risk for bladder cancer and radiation-specific complications, according to the new cohort study.
 

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a cohort study to try to characterize long-term treatment-related adverse effects and complications in patients treated for prostate cancer, compared with a general population of older males.
• They used data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, linked with Medicare claims. A total of 29,196 participants were included in the study’s control group. Of 3946 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, 655 were treated with prostatectomy, and 1056 were treated with radiotherapy.
• Participants were followed for a median of 10.2 years, with specific follow-up durations being 10.5 years and 8.5 years for the prostatectomy and radiotherapy groups, respectively.
• The study analyzed ten potential treatment-related complications using Medicare claims data, including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and secondary cancers. 
• Multivariable Cox regression was used to adjust for age, race, and year of time-at-risk initiation, with stratification by study and intervention arm. 

TAKEAWAY:

• At 12 years, there was a 7.23 increase in hazard risk for urinary or sexual complications for patients who had prostatectomy, compared with controls (P < .001).
• Radiotherapy-treated patients had a nearly three times greater hazard risk for bladder cancer and a 100-fold increased hazard risk for radiation-specific complications, such as radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis (P < .001).
• The incidence of any treatment-related complication per 1000 person-years was 124.26 for prostatectomy, 62.15 for radiotherapy, and 23.61 for untreated participants.
• The authors stated that these findings highlight the importance of patient counseling before prostate cancer screening and treatment.

IN PRACTICE:

“We found that, after accounting for baseline population rates, most patients with PCA undergoing treatment experience complications associated with worse quality of life and/or new health risks. The magnitude of these risks, compared with the relatively small benefit found by randomized clinical trials of PCA screening and treatment, should be explicitly reflected in national cancer screening and treatment guidelines and be integral to shared decision-making with patients before initiation of PSA screening, biopsy, or PCA treatment,” wrote the authors of the study.
 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Joseph M. Unger, PhD, SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. It was published online on November 7, 2024, in JAMA Oncology.
 

LIMITATIONS:

The study did not account for multiple comparisons, which may affect the statistical significance of some findings. Claims data are subject to misclassification and may underreport complications that are not reported to a physician. The study did not differentiate among strategies of prostatectomy or radiotherapy, which may result in different patterns of complications. The cohort comprised men enrolled in large, randomized prevention trials, which may limit the generalizability of the incidence estimates. Confounding by unknown factors cannot be ruled out, affecting the attribution of risks to prostate cancer treatment alone.
 

DISCLOSURES:

Unger disclosed consulting fees from AstraZeneca and Loxo/Lilly outside the submitted work. One coauthor reported grants from the US National Cancer Institute during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor reported employment with Flatiron Health at the time of manuscript submission and review. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Patients treated for prostate cancer had higher rates of complications, including urinary and sexual issues, than a control group of men. Radiotherapy increases the risk for bladder cancer and radiation-specific complications, according to the new cohort study.
 

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a cohort study to try to characterize long-term treatment-related adverse effects and complications in patients treated for prostate cancer, compared with a general population of older males.
• They used data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, linked with Medicare claims. A total of 29,196 participants were included in the study’s control group. Of 3946 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, 655 were treated with prostatectomy, and 1056 were treated with radiotherapy.
• Participants were followed for a median of 10.2 years, with specific follow-up durations being 10.5 years and 8.5 years for the prostatectomy and radiotherapy groups, respectively.
• The study analyzed ten potential treatment-related complications using Medicare claims data, including urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and secondary cancers. 
• Multivariable Cox regression was used to adjust for age, race, and year of time-at-risk initiation, with stratification by study and intervention arm. 

TAKEAWAY:

• At 12 years, there was a 7.23 increase in hazard risk for urinary or sexual complications for patients who had prostatectomy, compared with controls (P < .001).
• Radiotherapy-treated patients had a nearly three times greater hazard risk for bladder cancer and a 100-fold increased hazard risk for radiation-specific complications, such as radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis (P < .001).
• The incidence of any treatment-related complication per 1000 person-years was 124.26 for prostatectomy, 62.15 for radiotherapy, and 23.61 for untreated participants.
• The authors stated that these findings highlight the importance of patient counseling before prostate cancer screening and treatment.

IN PRACTICE:

“We found that, after accounting for baseline population rates, most patients with PCA undergoing treatment experience complications associated with worse quality of life and/or new health risks. The magnitude of these risks, compared with the relatively small benefit found by randomized clinical trials of PCA screening and treatment, should be explicitly reflected in national cancer screening and treatment guidelines and be integral to shared decision-making with patients before initiation of PSA screening, biopsy, or PCA treatment,” wrote the authors of the study.
 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Joseph M. Unger, PhD, SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. It was published online on November 7, 2024, in JAMA Oncology.
 

LIMITATIONS:

The study did not account for multiple comparisons, which may affect the statistical significance of some findings. Claims data are subject to misclassification and may underreport complications that are not reported to a physician. The study did not differentiate among strategies of prostatectomy or radiotherapy, which may result in different patterns of complications. The cohort comprised men enrolled in large, randomized prevention trials, which may limit the generalizability of the incidence estimates. Confounding by unknown factors cannot be ruled out, affecting the attribution of risks to prostate cancer treatment alone.
 

DISCLOSURES:

Unger disclosed consulting fees from AstraZeneca and Loxo/Lilly outside the submitted work. One coauthor reported grants from the US National Cancer Institute during the conduct of the study. Another coauthor reported employment with Flatiron Health at the time of manuscript submission and review. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) have a heightened immune response to flagellins expressed by commensal gut bacteria Lachnospiraceae, with seroreactivity appearing up to 5 years prior to development of Crohn’s complications, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that the flagellin cytometric bead array used in the present study could serve as a simple diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with CD, and point to a new therapeutic target, lead author Qing Zhao, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues reported.

Qing Zhao

Previously, Zhao and colleagues found that about 30% of patients with CD had elevated IgG responses to multiple Lachnospiraceae flagellins, and stronger reactivity was associated with higher flagellin-specific CD4+ T cells in circulation.

“In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant B cell peptide epitopes shared among Lachnospiraceae bacterial flagellins in patients with CD and to correlate this immune reactivity with the clinical disease course,” the investigators wrote in Gastroenterology.

To this end, the investigators analyzed serum samples from adult CD patients, pediatric CD patients, and healthy infants without inflammatory bowel disease, with data derived from multiple sources. Adult patients with CD were part of a regional cohort recruited at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while pediatric patients with CD came from the RISK Stratification Study, a multisite cohort study across the United States and Canada. Samples from healthy infants were collected from three diverse geographic locations: Uganda, Sweden, and the United States, providing a broad comparison of immune responses to Lachnospiraceae flagellin across populations.

Samples were analyzed via two main methods: a flagellin peptide microarray and a cytometric bead array. The microarray, comprising sequential Lachnospiraceae-derived peptides, enabled identification of IgG responses specific to individual bacterial peptides. The cytometric bead array allowed for multiplexed detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to these peptides, quantifying immune reactivity and enabling correlation with clinical disease data.

This approach revealed that nearly half of patients with CD — both adults and children — had a strong IgG immune response targeting a specific bacterial peptide in the Lachnospiraceae flagellin hinge region. This response was linked to an increased risk of disease complications over time, suggesting the peptide’s potential as a biomarker for CD severity and progression, according to the investigators.

Of note, healthy infants also exhibited an elevated IgG response to the same bacterial peptide at around 1 year of age, but this response declined as they grew older, in contrast to its persistence in CD patients. This difference points to a possible failure in immune tolerance in CD, where the natural immune response to gut bacteria in infancy may become dysregulated, Zhao and colleagues explained.

“The flagellin cytometric bead array used in this study holds potential for a simplified yet robust diagnostic and prognostic assay for Crohn’s disease,” they concluded. “Given that reactivity to the dominant flagellin epitope is strongly associated with the development of disease complications, this technique may also assist in identifying patients with Crohn’s disease who would benefit from early therapy.”

Zhao and colleagues also called for future studies to characterize the role of flagellin hinge peptide–specific IgG antibodies in CD pathogenesis, and to explore the hinge peptide as a potential therapeutic target.The study was supported by a Synergy Award from the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, a Career Development Award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. One coauthor and the University of Alabama at Birmingham hold a patent on Lachnospiraceae A4 Fla2, licensed for clinical application by Prometheus Laboratories. Four study coauthors have filed a patent for the flagellin peptide cytometric bead array. One coauthor serves as the founder and chief scientific officer of ImmPrev Bio, a company developing an antigen-directed immunotherapy for Crohn’s disease.

Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) have a heightened immune response to flagellins expressed by commensal gut bacteria Lachnospiraceae, with seroreactivity appearing up to 5 years prior to development of Crohn’s complications, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that the flagellin cytometric bead array used in the present study could serve as a simple diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with CD, and point to a new therapeutic target, lead author Qing Zhao, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues reported.

Qing Zhao

Previously, Zhao and colleagues found that about 30% of patients with CD had elevated IgG responses to multiple Lachnospiraceae flagellins, and stronger reactivity was associated with higher flagellin-specific CD4+ T cells in circulation.

“In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant B cell peptide epitopes shared among Lachnospiraceae bacterial flagellins in patients with CD and to correlate this immune reactivity with the clinical disease course,” the investigators wrote in Gastroenterology.

To this end, the investigators analyzed serum samples from adult CD patients, pediatric CD patients, and healthy infants without inflammatory bowel disease, with data derived from multiple sources. Adult patients with CD were part of a regional cohort recruited at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while pediatric patients with CD came from the RISK Stratification Study, a multisite cohort study across the United States and Canada. Samples from healthy infants were collected from three diverse geographic locations: Uganda, Sweden, and the United States, providing a broad comparison of immune responses to Lachnospiraceae flagellin across populations.

Samples were analyzed via two main methods: a flagellin peptide microarray and a cytometric bead array. The microarray, comprising sequential Lachnospiraceae-derived peptides, enabled identification of IgG responses specific to individual bacterial peptides. The cytometric bead array allowed for multiplexed detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to these peptides, quantifying immune reactivity and enabling correlation with clinical disease data.

This approach revealed that nearly half of patients with CD — both adults and children — had a strong IgG immune response targeting a specific bacterial peptide in the Lachnospiraceae flagellin hinge region. This response was linked to an increased risk of disease complications over time, suggesting the peptide’s potential as a biomarker for CD severity and progression, according to the investigators.

Of note, healthy infants also exhibited an elevated IgG response to the same bacterial peptide at around 1 year of age, but this response declined as they grew older, in contrast to its persistence in CD patients. This difference points to a possible failure in immune tolerance in CD, where the natural immune response to gut bacteria in infancy may become dysregulated, Zhao and colleagues explained.

“The flagellin cytometric bead array used in this study holds potential for a simplified yet robust diagnostic and prognostic assay for Crohn’s disease,” they concluded. “Given that reactivity to the dominant flagellin epitope is strongly associated with the development of disease complications, this technique may also assist in identifying patients with Crohn’s disease who would benefit from early therapy.”

Zhao and colleagues also called for future studies to characterize the role of flagellin hinge peptide–specific IgG antibodies in CD pathogenesis, and to explore the hinge peptide as a potential therapeutic target.The study was supported by a Synergy Award from the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, a Career Development Award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. One coauthor and the University of Alabama at Birmingham hold a patent on Lachnospiraceae A4 Fla2, licensed for clinical application by Prometheus Laboratories. Four study coauthors have filed a patent for the flagellin peptide cytometric bead array. One coauthor serves as the founder and chief scientific officer of ImmPrev Bio, a company developing an antigen-directed immunotherapy for Crohn’s disease.

Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) have a heightened immune response to flagellins expressed by commensal gut bacteria Lachnospiraceae, with seroreactivity appearing up to 5 years prior to development of Crohn’s complications, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that the flagellin cytometric bead array used in the present study could serve as a simple diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with CD, and point to a new therapeutic target, lead author Qing Zhao, MD, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues reported.

Qing Zhao

Previously, Zhao and colleagues found that about 30% of patients with CD had elevated IgG responses to multiple Lachnospiraceae flagellins, and stronger reactivity was associated with higher flagellin-specific CD4+ T cells in circulation.

“In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant B cell peptide epitopes shared among Lachnospiraceae bacterial flagellins in patients with CD and to correlate this immune reactivity with the clinical disease course,” the investigators wrote in Gastroenterology.

To this end, the investigators analyzed serum samples from adult CD patients, pediatric CD patients, and healthy infants without inflammatory bowel disease, with data derived from multiple sources. Adult patients with CD were part of a regional cohort recruited at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while pediatric patients with CD came from the RISK Stratification Study, a multisite cohort study across the United States and Canada. Samples from healthy infants were collected from three diverse geographic locations: Uganda, Sweden, and the United States, providing a broad comparison of immune responses to Lachnospiraceae flagellin across populations.

Samples were analyzed via two main methods: a flagellin peptide microarray and a cytometric bead array. The microarray, comprising sequential Lachnospiraceae-derived peptides, enabled identification of IgG responses specific to individual bacterial peptides. The cytometric bead array allowed for multiplexed detection of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to these peptides, quantifying immune reactivity and enabling correlation with clinical disease data.

This approach revealed that nearly half of patients with CD — both adults and children — had a strong IgG immune response targeting a specific bacterial peptide in the Lachnospiraceae flagellin hinge region. This response was linked to an increased risk of disease complications over time, suggesting the peptide’s potential as a biomarker for CD severity and progression, according to the investigators.

Of note, healthy infants also exhibited an elevated IgG response to the same bacterial peptide at around 1 year of age, but this response declined as they grew older, in contrast to its persistence in CD patients. This difference points to a possible failure in immune tolerance in CD, where the natural immune response to gut bacteria in infancy may become dysregulated, Zhao and colleagues explained.

“The flagellin cytometric bead array used in this study holds potential for a simplified yet robust diagnostic and prognostic assay for Crohn’s disease,” they concluded. “Given that reactivity to the dominant flagellin epitope is strongly associated with the development of disease complications, this technique may also assist in identifying patients with Crohn’s disease who would benefit from early therapy.”

Zhao and colleagues also called for future studies to characterize the role of flagellin hinge peptide–specific IgG antibodies in CD pathogenesis, and to explore the hinge peptide as a potential therapeutic target.The study was supported by a Synergy Award from the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, a Career Development Award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. One coauthor and the University of Alabama at Birmingham hold a patent on Lachnospiraceae A4 Fla2, licensed for clinical application by Prometheus Laboratories. Four study coauthors have filed a patent for the flagellin peptide cytometric bead array. One coauthor serves as the founder and chief scientific officer of ImmPrev Bio, a company developing an antigen-directed immunotherapy for Crohn’s disease.

On September 27, 2024, UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, experienced an IT outage because of a cybersecurity incident that temporarily diverted patients to other healthcare facilities. So far, in 2024, there have been 386 cyberattacks on healthcare organizations. These high-impact ransomware attacks disrupt and delay patient care.

In recent years, many healthcare systems, including Scripps Health, Universal Health Services, Vastaamo, Sky Lakes, and the University of Vermont, have paid millions — even tens of millions — to recover data after a cyberattack or data breach. When healthcare systems come under cyber fire, the impact extends far past disrupting workflows and compromising data, patient safety can be also be compromised, vital information may be lost, and imaging and lab results can go missing or be held for ransom, making physicians’ job difficult or impossible.

In fact, cyberattacks on hospitals are far more common than you may realize. A new report issued by Ponemon and Proofpoint found that 92% of healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months. Even more sobering is that about half of the organizations affected suffered disruptions in patient care.
 

Healthcare Systems = ‘Soft Targets’

Healthcare systems are a “soft target” for hackers for several reasons, pointed out Matthew Radolec, vice president, incident response and cloud operations at Varonis, a data security company. “One, they’re usually an amalgamation of many healthcare systems that are interconnected,” said Radolec. “A lot of hospitals are connected to other hospitals or connected to educational institutions, which means their computer vulnerabilities are shared ... and if they have an issue, it could very easily spread to your network.”

Another factor is the cost of securing data. “[With hospitals], they’ll say that a dollar spent on security is a dollar not spent on patient care,” said Radolec. “So the idea of investing in security is really tough from a budget standpoint…they’re choosing between a new MRI machine or better antivirus, backups, or data security.”

Because of the wealth of private data and healthcare information they maintain, hospitals are considered “high impact” for cybercriminals. Attackers know that if they get a foothold in a hospital, it’s more likely to pay — and pay quickly, Radolec told this news organization. Hospitals are also likely to have cyber insurance to help cover the cost of having their data stolen, encrypted, and ransomed.

The 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report also found that the bad actors are more sophisticated and better resourced and can challenge even the best cybersecurity. Improved defenses may not be good enough, and the sheer volume of attacks must be met with effective deterrence and government solutions that impose consequences for cybercriminals.
 

Vulnerable Users

Whether through a phishing email or text, password attack, or web attack, “the moment a ‘threat actor’ gets into your institution and gets credentials ... that’s the Nirvana state of a threat actor,” warned Ryan Witt, chair of the healthcare customer advisory board and vice president of Industry Solutions at Proofpoint, a cybersecurity platform. “They have those credentials and will go into deep reconnaissance mode. It often takes healthcare up to 6 months to even ascertain whether somebody’s actually in the network.” During that time, the hacker is learning how the institution works, what job functions matter, and how best to plan their attack.

“Attackers are getting in because they’re buying databases of usernames and passwords. And they’re trying them by the millions,” added Radolec. “For a sophisticated actor, all it takes is time and motivation. They have the skills. It’s just a matter of how persistent they want to be.”

Certain hospital staff are also more likely to be targeted by cyberhackers than others. “About 10% of a healthcare organization’s user base is much more vulnerable for all sorts of reasons — how they work, the value of their job title and job function, and therefore their access to systems,” said Witt.

High-profile staff are more likely to be targeted than those in lower-level positions; the so-called “CEO attack” is typical. However, staff in other hospital departments are also subject to cybercriminals, including hospice departments/hospice organizations and research arms of hospitals.
 

The Impact of Cyberattacks on Patients 

Physicians and healthcare execs may have considered cybersecurity more of a compliance issue than a true threat to patients in the past. But this attitude is rapidly changing. “We are starting to see a very clear connection between a cyber event and how it can impact patient care and patient safety,” said Witt.

According to the Proofpoint report, cyber breaches can severely affect patient care. In 2024:

• 56% of respondents saw a delay in patient tests/procedures
• 53% experienced increased patient complications from medical procedures
• 52% noted a longer patient length of stay
• 44% saw an increase in patient transfers to other facilities
• 28% had an increase in mortality rate

What Hospitals and Physicians Can Do

Fortunately, hospitals can take measures to better protect their data and their patients. One strategy is segmenting networks to reduce the amount of data or systems one person or system can access. Educating staff about the dangers of phishing and spoofing emails also help protect organizations from ransomware attacks. Having staff avoid reusing passwords and updating logins and passwords frequently helps.

Most hospitals also need more robust security controls. Physicians and healthcare facilities must also embrace the cybersecurity controls found in other industries, said Witt. “Multifactor authentication is one of those things that can cause us frustration,” he said. “The controls can seem onerous, but they’re really valuable overall…and should become standard practice.”

Doctors can also prepare for a ransomware attack and protect patients by practicing some “old-school” medicine, like using paper systems and maintaining good patient notes — often, those notes are synced locally as well as offsite, so you’d be able to access them even during a data breach. “It’s smart to write prescriptions on pads sometimes,” said Radolec. “Don’t forget how to do those things because that will make you more resilient in the event of a ransomware attack.”
 

A Continuing Threat

Cyberattacks will continue. “When you look at the high likelihood [of success] and the soft target, you end up with ... a perfect storm,” said Radolec. “Hospitals have a lot of vulnerabilities. They have to keep operations going just to receive income, but also to deliver care to people.”

That means that the burden is on healthcare organizations — including physicians, nurses, staff, and C-level execs — to help keep the “security” in cybersecurity. “We are all part of the cybersecurity defense,” said Witt. Helping to maintain that defense has become a critical aspect of caring for patients.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

On September 27, 2024, UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, experienced an IT outage because of a cybersecurity incident that temporarily diverted patients to other healthcare facilities. So far, in 2024, there have been 386 cyberattacks on healthcare organizations. These high-impact ransomware attacks disrupt and delay patient care.

In recent years, many healthcare systems, including Scripps Health, Universal Health Services, Vastaamo, Sky Lakes, and the University of Vermont, have paid millions — even tens of millions — to recover data after a cyberattack or data breach. When healthcare systems come under cyber fire, the impact extends far past disrupting workflows and compromising data, patient safety can be also be compromised, vital information may be lost, and imaging and lab results can go missing or be held for ransom, making physicians’ job difficult or impossible.

In fact, cyberattacks on hospitals are far more common than you may realize. A new report issued by Ponemon and Proofpoint found that 92% of healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months. Even more sobering is that about half of the organizations affected suffered disruptions in patient care.
 

Healthcare Systems = ‘Soft Targets’

Healthcare systems are a “soft target” for hackers for several reasons, pointed out Matthew Radolec, vice president, incident response and cloud operations at Varonis, a data security company. “One, they’re usually an amalgamation of many healthcare systems that are interconnected,” said Radolec. “A lot of hospitals are connected to other hospitals or connected to educational institutions, which means their computer vulnerabilities are shared ... and if they have an issue, it could very easily spread to your network.”

Another factor is the cost of securing data. “[With hospitals], they’ll say that a dollar spent on security is a dollar not spent on patient care,” said Radolec. “So the idea of investing in security is really tough from a budget standpoint…they’re choosing between a new MRI machine or better antivirus, backups, or data security.”

Because of the wealth of private data and healthcare information they maintain, hospitals are considered “high impact” for cybercriminals. Attackers know that if they get a foothold in a hospital, it’s more likely to pay — and pay quickly, Radolec told this news organization. Hospitals are also likely to have cyber insurance to help cover the cost of having their data stolen, encrypted, and ransomed.

The 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report also found that the bad actors are more sophisticated and better resourced and can challenge even the best cybersecurity. Improved defenses may not be good enough, and the sheer volume of attacks must be met with effective deterrence and government solutions that impose consequences for cybercriminals.
 

Vulnerable Users

Whether through a phishing email or text, password attack, or web attack, “the moment a ‘threat actor’ gets into your institution and gets credentials ... that’s the Nirvana state of a threat actor,” warned Ryan Witt, chair of the healthcare customer advisory board and vice president of Industry Solutions at Proofpoint, a cybersecurity platform. “They have those credentials and will go into deep reconnaissance mode. It often takes healthcare up to 6 months to even ascertain whether somebody’s actually in the network.” During that time, the hacker is learning how the institution works, what job functions matter, and how best to plan their attack.

“Attackers are getting in because they’re buying databases of usernames and passwords. And they’re trying them by the millions,” added Radolec. “For a sophisticated actor, all it takes is time and motivation. They have the skills. It’s just a matter of how persistent they want to be.”

Certain hospital staff are also more likely to be targeted by cyberhackers than others. “About 10% of a healthcare organization’s user base is much more vulnerable for all sorts of reasons — how they work, the value of their job title and job function, and therefore their access to systems,” said Witt.

High-profile staff are more likely to be targeted than those in lower-level positions; the so-called “CEO attack” is typical. However, staff in other hospital departments are also subject to cybercriminals, including hospice departments/hospice organizations and research arms of hospitals.
 

The Impact of Cyberattacks on Patients 

Physicians and healthcare execs may have considered cybersecurity more of a compliance issue than a true threat to patients in the past. But this attitude is rapidly changing. “We are starting to see a very clear connection between a cyber event and how it can impact patient care and patient safety,” said Witt.

According to the Proofpoint report, cyber breaches can severely affect patient care. In 2024:

• 56% of respondents saw a delay in patient tests/procedures
• 53% experienced increased patient complications from medical procedures
• 52% noted a longer patient length of stay
• 44% saw an increase in patient transfers to other facilities
• 28% had an increase in mortality rate

What Hospitals and Physicians Can Do

Fortunately, hospitals can take measures to better protect their data and their patients. One strategy is segmenting networks to reduce the amount of data or systems one person or system can access. Educating staff about the dangers of phishing and spoofing emails also help protect organizations from ransomware attacks. Having staff avoid reusing passwords and updating logins and passwords frequently helps.

Most hospitals also need more robust security controls. Physicians and healthcare facilities must also embrace the cybersecurity controls found in other industries, said Witt. “Multifactor authentication is one of those things that can cause us frustration,” he said. “The controls can seem onerous, but they’re really valuable overall…and should become standard practice.”

Doctors can also prepare for a ransomware attack and protect patients by practicing some “old-school” medicine, like using paper systems and maintaining good patient notes — often, those notes are synced locally as well as offsite, so you’d be able to access them even during a data breach. “It’s smart to write prescriptions on pads sometimes,” said Radolec. “Don’t forget how to do those things because that will make you more resilient in the event of a ransomware attack.”
 

A Continuing Threat

Cyberattacks will continue. “When you look at the high likelihood [of success] and the soft target, you end up with ... a perfect storm,” said Radolec. “Hospitals have a lot of vulnerabilities. They have to keep operations going just to receive income, but also to deliver care to people.”

That means that the burden is on healthcare organizations — including physicians, nurses, staff, and C-level execs — to help keep the “security” in cybersecurity. “We are all part of the cybersecurity defense,” said Witt. Helping to maintain that defense has become a critical aspect of caring for patients.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

On September 27, 2024, UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, experienced an IT outage because of a cybersecurity incident that temporarily diverted patients to other healthcare facilities. So far, in 2024, there have been 386 cyberattacks on healthcare organizations. These high-impact ransomware attacks disrupt and delay patient care.

In recent years, many healthcare systems, including Scripps Health, Universal Health Services, Vastaamo, Sky Lakes, and the University of Vermont, have paid millions — even tens of millions — to recover data after a cyberattack or data breach. When healthcare systems come under cyber fire, the impact extends far past disrupting workflows and compromising data, patient safety can be also be compromised, vital information may be lost, and imaging and lab results can go missing or be held for ransom, making physicians’ job difficult or impossible.

In fact, cyberattacks on hospitals are far more common than you may realize. A new report issued by Ponemon and Proofpoint found that 92% of healthcare organizations have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months. Even more sobering is that about half of the organizations affected suffered disruptions in patient care.
 

Healthcare Systems = ‘Soft Targets’

Healthcare systems are a “soft target” for hackers for several reasons, pointed out Matthew Radolec, vice president, incident response and cloud operations at Varonis, a data security company. “One, they’re usually an amalgamation of many healthcare systems that are interconnected,” said Radolec. “A lot of hospitals are connected to other hospitals or connected to educational institutions, which means their computer vulnerabilities are shared ... and if they have an issue, it could very easily spread to your network.”

Another factor is the cost of securing data. “[With hospitals], they’ll say that a dollar spent on security is a dollar not spent on patient care,” said Radolec. “So the idea of investing in security is really tough from a budget standpoint…they’re choosing between a new MRI machine or better antivirus, backups, or data security.”

Because of the wealth of private data and healthcare information they maintain, hospitals are considered “high impact” for cybercriminals. Attackers know that if they get a foothold in a hospital, it’s more likely to pay — and pay quickly, Radolec told this news organization. Hospitals are also likely to have cyber insurance to help cover the cost of having their data stolen, encrypted, and ransomed.

The 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report also found that the bad actors are more sophisticated and better resourced and can challenge even the best cybersecurity. Improved defenses may not be good enough, and the sheer volume of attacks must be met with effective deterrence and government solutions that impose consequences for cybercriminals.
 

Vulnerable Users

Whether through a phishing email or text, password attack, or web attack, “the moment a ‘threat actor’ gets into your institution and gets credentials ... that’s the Nirvana state of a threat actor,” warned Ryan Witt, chair of the healthcare customer advisory board and vice president of Industry Solutions at Proofpoint, a cybersecurity platform. “They have those credentials and will go into deep reconnaissance mode. It often takes healthcare up to 6 months to even ascertain whether somebody’s actually in the network.” During that time, the hacker is learning how the institution works, what job functions matter, and how best to plan their attack.

“Attackers are getting in because they’re buying databases of usernames and passwords. And they’re trying them by the millions,” added Radolec. “For a sophisticated actor, all it takes is time and motivation. They have the skills. It’s just a matter of how persistent they want to be.”

Certain hospital staff are also more likely to be targeted by cyberhackers than others. “About 10% of a healthcare organization’s user base is much more vulnerable for all sorts of reasons — how they work, the value of their job title and job function, and therefore their access to systems,” said Witt.

High-profile staff are more likely to be targeted than those in lower-level positions; the so-called “CEO attack” is typical. However, staff in other hospital departments are also subject to cybercriminals, including hospice departments/hospice organizations and research arms of hospitals.
 

The Impact of Cyberattacks on Patients 

Physicians and healthcare execs may have considered cybersecurity more of a compliance issue than a true threat to patients in the past. But this attitude is rapidly changing. “We are starting to see a very clear connection between a cyber event and how it can impact patient care and patient safety,” said Witt.

According to the Proofpoint report, cyber breaches can severely affect patient care. In 2024:

• 56% of respondents saw a delay in patient tests/procedures
• 53% experienced increased patient complications from medical procedures
• 52% noted a longer patient length of stay
• 44% saw an increase in patient transfers to other facilities
• 28% had an increase in mortality rate

What Hospitals and Physicians Can Do

Fortunately, hospitals can take measures to better protect their data and their patients. One strategy is segmenting networks to reduce the amount of data or systems one person or system can access. Educating staff about the dangers of phishing and spoofing emails also help protect organizations from ransomware attacks. Having staff avoid reusing passwords and updating logins and passwords frequently helps.

Most hospitals also need more robust security controls. Physicians and healthcare facilities must also embrace the cybersecurity controls found in other industries, said Witt. “Multifactor authentication is one of those things that can cause us frustration,” he said. “The controls can seem onerous, but they’re really valuable overall…and should become standard practice.”

Doctors can also prepare for a ransomware attack and protect patients by practicing some “old-school” medicine, like using paper systems and maintaining good patient notes — often, those notes are synced locally as well as offsite, so you’d be able to access them even during a data breach. “It’s smart to write prescriptions on pads sometimes,” said Radolec. “Don’t forget how to do those things because that will make you more resilient in the event of a ransomware attack.”
 

A Continuing Threat

Cyberattacks will continue. “When you look at the high likelihood [of success] and the soft target, you end up with ... a perfect storm,” said Radolec. “Hospitals have a lot of vulnerabilities. They have to keep operations going just to receive income, but also to deliver care to people.”

That means that the burden is on healthcare organizations — including physicians, nurses, staff, and C-level execs — to help keep the “security” in cybersecurity. “We are all part of the cybersecurity defense,” said Witt. Helping to maintain that defense has become a critical aspect of caring for patients.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Semaglutide use is associated with an increased risk of retained solid gastric contents, but colonoscopy prep appears to mitigate this issue, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may benefit from a 24-hour liquid fast before anesthetic procedures without the need for a medication hold, reported lead author Haarika Korlipara, MD, of NewYork–Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, and colleagues.

“[T]he effects of delayed gastric emptying in patients on long-acting GLP-1RAs are clinically important in the management of anesthetized patients, who may develop periprocedural complications in the setting of retained solid gastric contents,” the investigators wrote in Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

The researchers retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,212 patients undergoing upper endoscopy at a tertiary care center. Among them, 602 were on semaglutide for more than four weeks, while 610 were controls not taking the medication.

The primary outcome was the presence of retained solid gastric contents. Secondary outcomes included the need for intubation, early procedure termination, and recommendations for repeat endoscopy.

Semaglutide use was an independent predictor of retained solid gastric contents (odds ratio [OR], 4.74; 95% CI, 2.40-9.35; P less than .0001). Multivariable propensity-matched analysis showed a 6% absolute increase in retained gastric contents in the semaglutide group compared to controls (P less than .0001).

This increase appeared clinically relevant, as semaglutide use was associated with a higher rate of early procedure termination (OR, 3.09; P = 0.02) and recommendations for repeat endoscopies (OR, 3.61; P = 0.02), “indicating the degree of retained solid gastric contents was enough to limit the intended gastric mucosal examination,” the investigators wrote.

However, patients who underwent same-day colonoscopy, which included a 24-hour clear liquid fast leading up to the procedure, were less likely to have retained gastric contents (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.73; P = 0.003), suggesting that extended fasting protocols may mitigate the risk of procedural complications.

“Patients with a history of gastroparesis are often advised to stop ingesting solid foods and maintain a clear liquid diet for a longer period than standard ASA guidance before anesthetized procedures,” Dr. Korlipara and colleagues wrote. “In our opinion, this recommendation should be considered in patients on long-term GLP-1RA therapy, in response to the findings reported in this study and others about the protective effects of a 24-hour liquid fast.”

Point-of-care gastric ultrasound may also be considered to evaluate patients at higher risk of retained stomach contents, they added, especially in patients with additional risk factors for delayed gastric emptying.

“Previously published data have linked prolonged gastric emptying delays in patients chronically using these medications,” they wrote. “Considering the effect on blood sugar and associated procedural risk, especially in patients taking this medication for diabetes management, more studies are warranted to determine the effect of medication on periprocedural complications and recommend repeat evaluation.”

After this study was released, new clinical guidance on the use of GLP-1RAs before surgery was co-published by AGA and four other societies. The guidance notes that, in most cases, patients can continue to take GLP-1RAs, but individual risk factors for complications should be assessed prior to surgery. The guidance cautions that patients at high risk for significant GI side effects should follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before a procedure and the anesthesia plan be adjusted accordingly. In rare cases, the procedure should be delayed.

Dr. Korlipara disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Semaglutide use is associated with an increased risk of retained solid gastric contents, but colonoscopy prep appears to mitigate this issue, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may benefit from a 24-hour liquid fast before anesthetic procedures without the need for a medication hold, reported lead author Haarika Korlipara, MD, of NewYork–Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, and colleagues.

“[T]he effects of delayed gastric emptying in patients on long-acting GLP-1RAs are clinically important in the management of anesthetized patients, who may develop periprocedural complications in the setting of retained solid gastric contents,” the investigators wrote in Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

The researchers retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,212 patients undergoing upper endoscopy at a tertiary care center. Among them, 602 were on semaglutide for more than four weeks, while 610 were controls not taking the medication.

The primary outcome was the presence of retained solid gastric contents. Secondary outcomes included the need for intubation, early procedure termination, and recommendations for repeat endoscopy.

Semaglutide use was an independent predictor of retained solid gastric contents (odds ratio [OR], 4.74; 95% CI, 2.40-9.35; P less than .0001). Multivariable propensity-matched analysis showed a 6% absolute increase in retained gastric contents in the semaglutide group compared to controls (P less than .0001).

This increase appeared clinically relevant, as semaglutide use was associated with a higher rate of early procedure termination (OR, 3.09; P = 0.02) and recommendations for repeat endoscopies (OR, 3.61; P = 0.02), “indicating the degree of retained solid gastric contents was enough to limit the intended gastric mucosal examination,” the investigators wrote.

However, patients who underwent same-day colonoscopy, which included a 24-hour clear liquid fast leading up to the procedure, were less likely to have retained gastric contents (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.73; P = 0.003), suggesting that extended fasting protocols may mitigate the risk of procedural complications.

“Patients with a history of gastroparesis are often advised to stop ingesting solid foods and maintain a clear liquid diet for a longer period than standard ASA guidance before anesthetized procedures,” Dr. Korlipara and colleagues wrote. “In our opinion, this recommendation should be considered in patients on long-term GLP-1RA therapy, in response to the findings reported in this study and others about the protective effects of a 24-hour liquid fast.”

Point-of-care gastric ultrasound may also be considered to evaluate patients at higher risk of retained stomach contents, they added, especially in patients with additional risk factors for delayed gastric emptying.

“Previously published data have linked prolonged gastric emptying delays in patients chronically using these medications,” they wrote. “Considering the effect on blood sugar and associated procedural risk, especially in patients taking this medication for diabetes management, more studies are warranted to determine the effect of medication on periprocedural complications and recommend repeat evaluation.”

After this study was released, new clinical guidance on the use of GLP-1RAs before surgery was co-published by AGA and four other societies. The guidance notes that, in most cases, patients can continue to take GLP-1RAs, but individual risk factors for complications should be assessed prior to surgery. The guidance cautions that patients at high risk for significant GI side effects should follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before a procedure and the anesthesia plan be adjusted accordingly. In rare cases, the procedure should be delayed.

Dr. Korlipara disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Semaglutide use is associated with an increased risk of retained solid gastric contents, but colonoscopy prep appears to mitigate this issue, according to investigators.

These findings suggest that patients taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may benefit from a 24-hour liquid fast before anesthetic procedures without the need for a medication hold, reported lead author Haarika Korlipara, MD, of NewYork–Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, and colleagues.

“[T]he effects of delayed gastric emptying in patients on long-acting GLP-1RAs are clinically important in the management of anesthetized patients, who may develop periprocedural complications in the setting of retained solid gastric contents,” the investigators wrote in Techniques and Innovations in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

The researchers retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,212 patients undergoing upper endoscopy at a tertiary care center. Among them, 602 were on semaglutide for more than four weeks, while 610 were controls not taking the medication.

The primary outcome was the presence of retained solid gastric contents. Secondary outcomes included the need for intubation, early procedure termination, and recommendations for repeat endoscopy.

Semaglutide use was an independent predictor of retained solid gastric contents (odds ratio [OR], 4.74; 95% CI, 2.40-9.35; P less than .0001). Multivariable propensity-matched analysis showed a 6% absolute increase in retained gastric contents in the semaglutide group compared to controls (P less than .0001).

This increase appeared clinically relevant, as semaglutide use was associated with a higher rate of early procedure termination (OR, 3.09; P = 0.02) and recommendations for repeat endoscopies (OR, 3.61; P = 0.02), “indicating the degree of retained solid gastric contents was enough to limit the intended gastric mucosal examination,” the investigators wrote.

However, patients who underwent same-day colonoscopy, which included a 24-hour clear liquid fast leading up to the procedure, were less likely to have retained gastric contents (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.73; P = 0.003), suggesting that extended fasting protocols may mitigate the risk of procedural complications.

“Patients with a history of gastroparesis are often advised to stop ingesting solid foods and maintain a clear liquid diet for a longer period than standard ASA guidance before anesthetized procedures,” Dr. Korlipara and colleagues wrote. “In our opinion, this recommendation should be considered in patients on long-term GLP-1RA therapy, in response to the findings reported in this study and others about the protective effects of a 24-hour liquid fast.”

Point-of-care gastric ultrasound may also be considered to evaluate patients at higher risk of retained stomach contents, they added, especially in patients with additional risk factors for delayed gastric emptying.

“Previously published data have linked prolonged gastric emptying delays in patients chronically using these medications,” they wrote. “Considering the effect on blood sugar and associated procedural risk, especially in patients taking this medication for diabetes management, more studies are warranted to determine the effect of medication on periprocedural complications and recommend repeat evaluation.”

After this study was released, new clinical guidance on the use of GLP-1RAs before surgery was co-published by AGA and four other societies. The guidance notes that, in most cases, patients can continue to take GLP-1RAs, but individual risk factors for complications should be assessed prior to surgery. The guidance cautions that patients at high risk for significant GI side effects should follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before a procedure and the anesthesia plan be adjusted accordingly. In rare cases, the procedure should be delayed.

Dr. Korlipara disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Although a 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) report concluded that microplastics in drinking water posed no risk to human health, accumulating evidence is beginning to challenge these findings.

Since plastics became widely used in the mid-20th century, they have evolved from a novel substance to an essential component in countless applications, with global production reaching 368 million tons in 2019 and expected to double by 2039. The production and degradation of plastics involve physical, chemical, and biological processes, leading to the formation of tiny fragments known as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which accumulate in the environment. Beyond the well-documented environmental harms of MPs and NPs, growing evidence of their presence within the human body raises concerns about their potential to trigger various harmful biological processes. Their detection in the urinary tract and their potential links to kidney and bladder diseases, as shown in animal studies, are particularly alarming.
 

Impacts Becoming Apparent

As the impact of plastic pollution becomes increasingly apparent, the need for standardized international definitions of MPs and NPs is pressing. Government publications reveal notable discrepancies between organizations in defining these fragmented plastics. The lack of consensus among regulatory bodies highlights the challenges in mitigating the environmental and health impacts of MPs and NPs. The International Organization for Standardization offers the most precise classification, defining MPs as solid, insoluble plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 1 mm and NPs as particles smaller than 1 µm.

The intrusion of MPs and NPs into the human body, whether through inhalation, ingestion, or skin exposure (via wounds, hair follicles, or sweat glands), has been linked to harmful biological effects, including inflammation, alterations in cellular metabolism, physical cellular damage, and reduced cell viability.
 

Urinary Tract Plastics

The detection of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract, combined with limited understanding of their effects, is a growing concern. An exploratory study published earlier this year aimed to systematically summarize the existing literature regarding the presence of MPs and NPs in the urinary tract and their potential consequences, guided by these research questions:

• What are the characteristics of the plastics detected in the human urinary tract?
• How are MPs and NPs defined in the current literature?
• What methodologies are used to explore the presence and effects of MPs and NPs?
• What are the pathophysiologic consequences of the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract?

For this study, the “urinary tract” included the kidneys, bladder, ureter, urethra, and urine. By focusing on the urinary tract, the study aimed to consolidate current understanding of MPs and NPs, raise awareness of this emerging issue, and lay the groundwork for further research that could contribute to public health policies and clinical practice guidelines.

The researchers conducted a scoping literature review following the recommendations of the JBI [formerly known as the Joanna Briggs Institute). They systematically searched five databases — PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase — as well as gray literature sources.
 

Concerning Study Results

Eighteen articles were identified. The authors represent seven countries: Pakistan (n = 1), the Netherlands (n = 1), the US (n = 1), Taiwan (n = 1), Germany (n = 3), China (n = 5), and Italy (n = 6). Among these studies, six investigated and characterized the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract. MPs and NPs were detected in urine samples (n = 5), kidney cancer samples (n = 2), and bladder cancer samples (n = 1).

Additionally, 12 studies examined the effects of MPs and NPs on human urinary tract cell lines. Their findings suggest that MPs and NPs have cytotoxic effects, increase inflammation, reduce cell viability, and alter mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.

Raman spectroscopy was the primary method used to detect and characterize MPs and NPs in human samples (five out of six studies; 83%). Alternatively, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with direct laser infrared spectroscopy was used in one study.
 

Further Research Needed

This exploratory study underscores the urgent need for further research and policy development to address the challenges posed by microplastic contamination. It highlights the rapidly emerging threat of human urinary tract contamination by microplastics, questioning the WHO’s claim that microplastics pose no public health risk. The documented cytotoxic effects of microplastics, and their ability to induce inflammation, reduce cell viability, and disrupt signaling pathways, raise significant public health concerns related to bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic urinary infections, and incontinence.

Bernard-Alex Gauzere, retired physician formerly with the national health system in France (intensive care unit, tropical medicine), has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
 

This story was translated from JIM using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Although a 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) report concluded that microplastics in drinking water posed no risk to human health, accumulating evidence is beginning to challenge these findings.

Since plastics became widely used in the mid-20th century, they have evolved from a novel substance to an essential component in countless applications, with global production reaching 368 million tons in 2019 and expected to double by 2039. The production and degradation of plastics involve physical, chemical, and biological processes, leading to the formation of tiny fragments known as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which accumulate in the environment. Beyond the well-documented environmental harms of MPs and NPs, growing evidence of their presence within the human body raises concerns about their potential to trigger various harmful biological processes. Their detection in the urinary tract and their potential links to kidney and bladder diseases, as shown in animal studies, are particularly alarming.
 

Impacts Becoming Apparent

As the impact of plastic pollution becomes increasingly apparent, the need for standardized international definitions of MPs and NPs is pressing. Government publications reveal notable discrepancies between organizations in defining these fragmented plastics. The lack of consensus among regulatory bodies highlights the challenges in mitigating the environmental and health impacts of MPs and NPs. The International Organization for Standardization offers the most precise classification, defining MPs as solid, insoluble plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 1 mm and NPs as particles smaller than 1 µm.

The intrusion of MPs and NPs into the human body, whether through inhalation, ingestion, or skin exposure (via wounds, hair follicles, or sweat glands), has been linked to harmful biological effects, including inflammation, alterations in cellular metabolism, physical cellular damage, and reduced cell viability.
 

Urinary Tract Plastics

The detection of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract, combined with limited understanding of their effects, is a growing concern. An exploratory study published earlier this year aimed to systematically summarize the existing literature regarding the presence of MPs and NPs in the urinary tract and their potential consequences, guided by these research questions:

• What are the characteristics of the plastics detected in the human urinary tract?
• How are MPs and NPs defined in the current literature?
• What methodologies are used to explore the presence and effects of MPs and NPs?
• What are the pathophysiologic consequences of the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract?

For this study, the “urinary tract” included the kidneys, bladder, ureter, urethra, and urine. By focusing on the urinary tract, the study aimed to consolidate current understanding of MPs and NPs, raise awareness of this emerging issue, and lay the groundwork for further research that could contribute to public health policies and clinical practice guidelines.

The researchers conducted a scoping literature review following the recommendations of the JBI [formerly known as the Joanna Briggs Institute). They systematically searched five databases — PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase — as well as gray literature sources.
 

Concerning Study Results

Eighteen articles were identified. The authors represent seven countries: Pakistan (n = 1), the Netherlands (n = 1), the US (n = 1), Taiwan (n = 1), Germany (n = 3), China (n = 5), and Italy (n = 6). Among these studies, six investigated and characterized the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract. MPs and NPs were detected in urine samples (n = 5), kidney cancer samples (n = 2), and bladder cancer samples (n = 1).

Additionally, 12 studies examined the effects of MPs and NPs on human urinary tract cell lines. Their findings suggest that MPs and NPs have cytotoxic effects, increase inflammation, reduce cell viability, and alter mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.

Raman spectroscopy was the primary method used to detect and characterize MPs and NPs in human samples (five out of six studies; 83%). Alternatively, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with direct laser infrared spectroscopy was used in one study.
 

Further Research Needed

This exploratory study underscores the urgent need for further research and policy development to address the challenges posed by microplastic contamination. It highlights the rapidly emerging threat of human urinary tract contamination by microplastics, questioning the WHO’s claim that microplastics pose no public health risk. The documented cytotoxic effects of microplastics, and their ability to induce inflammation, reduce cell viability, and disrupt signaling pathways, raise significant public health concerns related to bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic urinary infections, and incontinence.

Bernard-Alex Gauzere, retired physician formerly with the national health system in France (intensive care unit, tropical medicine), has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
 

This story was translated from JIM using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Although a 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) report concluded that microplastics in drinking water posed no risk to human health, accumulating evidence is beginning to challenge these findings.

Since plastics became widely used in the mid-20th century, they have evolved from a novel substance to an essential component in countless applications, with global production reaching 368 million tons in 2019 and expected to double by 2039. The production and degradation of plastics involve physical, chemical, and biological processes, leading to the formation of tiny fragments known as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which accumulate in the environment. Beyond the well-documented environmental harms of MPs and NPs, growing evidence of their presence within the human body raises concerns about their potential to trigger various harmful biological processes. Their detection in the urinary tract and their potential links to kidney and bladder diseases, as shown in animal studies, are particularly alarming.
 

Impacts Becoming Apparent

As the impact of plastic pollution becomes increasingly apparent, the need for standardized international definitions of MPs and NPs is pressing. Government publications reveal notable discrepancies between organizations in defining these fragmented plastics. The lack of consensus among regulatory bodies highlights the challenges in mitigating the environmental and health impacts of MPs and NPs. The International Organization for Standardization offers the most precise classification, defining MPs as solid, insoluble plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 1 mm and NPs as particles smaller than 1 µm.

The intrusion of MPs and NPs into the human body, whether through inhalation, ingestion, or skin exposure (via wounds, hair follicles, or sweat glands), has been linked to harmful biological effects, including inflammation, alterations in cellular metabolism, physical cellular damage, and reduced cell viability.
 

Urinary Tract Plastics

The detection of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract, combined with limited understanding of their effects, is a growing concern. An exploratory study published earlier this year aimed to systematically summarize the existing literature regarding the presence of MPs and NPs in the urinary tract and their potential consequences, guided by these research questions:

• What are the characteristics of the plastics detected in the human urinary tract?
• How are MPs and NPs defined in the current literature?
• What methodologies are used to explore the presence and effects of MPs and NPs?
• What are the pathophysiologic consequences of the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract?

For this study, the “urinary tract” included the kidneys, bladder, ureter, urethra, and urine. By focusing on the urinary tract, the study aimed to consolidate current understanding of MPs and NPs, raise awareness of this emerging issue, and lay the groundwork for further research that could contribute to public health policies and clinical practice guidelines.

The researchers conducted a scoping literature review following the recommendations of the JBI [formerly known as the Joanna Briggs Institute). They systematically searched five databases — PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase — as well as gray literature sources.
 

Concerning Study Results

Eighteen articles were identified. The authors represent seven countries: Pakistan (n = 1), the Netherlands (n = 1), the US (n = 1), Taiwan (n = 1), Germany (n = 3), China (n = 5), and Italy (n = 6). Among these studies, six investigated and characterized the presence of MPs and NPs in the human urinary tract. MPs and NPs were detected in urine samples (n = 5), kidney cancer samples (n = 2), and bladder cancer samples (n = 1).

Additionally, 12 studies examined the effects of MPs and NPs on human urinary tract cell lines. Their findings suggest that MPs and NPs have cytotoxic effects, increase inflammation, reduce cell viability, and alter mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.

Raman spectroscopy was the primary method used to detect and characterize MPs and NPs in human samples (five out of six studies; 83%). Alternatively, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with direct laser infrared spectroscopy was used in one study.
 

Further Research Needed

This exploratory study underscores the urgent need for further research and policy development to address the challenges posed by microplastic contamination. It highlights the rapidly emerging threat of human urinary tract contamination by microplastics, questioning the WHO’s claim that microplastics pose no public health risk. The documented cytotoxic effects of microplastics, and their ability to induce inflammation, reduce cell viability, and disrupt signaling pathways, raise significant public health concerns related to bladder cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic urinary infections, and incontinence.

Bernard-Alex Gauzere, retired physician formerly with the national health system in France (intensive care unit, tropical medicine), has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
 

This story was translated from JIM using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

About one in six women experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) 2 months after cesarean delivery, with certain obstetric factors such as emergency cesarean delivery before labor, cesarean delivery after labor induction, lack of social support in the operating room, and severe postoperative pain influencing the risk.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a prospective ancillary cohort study of the Tranexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage after Cesarean Delivery (TRAAP2) trial to examine the prevalence of PPD 2 months after cesarean delivery and associated risk factors.
• A total of 2793 women (median age, 33.5 years) were included who had a cesarean delivery at 34 or more weeks of gestation; they completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-administered questionnaire, at 2 months after delivery.
• Information about the cesarean delivery, postpartum blood loss, immediate postpartum period, psychiatric history, and memories of delivery and postoperative pain were prospectively collected.
• Medical records were used to obtain details about characteristics of patients; 5.0% had a psychiatric history (2.4% composed of depression).
• The main endpoint was a positive screening for symptoms consistent with this depression — defined as a PPD diagnosis — 2 months after caesarian delivery, with an EPDS score of 13 or higher.

TAKEAWAY:

• The prevalence of a provisional PPD diagnosis at 2 months after cesarean delivery was 16.4% (95% CI, 14.9-18.0) with an EPDS score of 13 or higher and was 23.1% (95% CI, 21.4-24.9%) with a cutoff value of 11 or higher.
• Women who had an emergency cesarean delivery before labor had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a normal cesarean delivery before labor started (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.15-2.50); women who had started labor after induction but then had a cesarean delivery also had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a cesarean delivery before going into labor (aOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.84).
• Severe pain during the postpartum stay (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.32-2.26) and bad memories of delivery (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.14-2.45) were also risk factors for PPD.
• However, women who had social support in the operating room showed a 27% lower risk for PPD (P = .02).

IN PRACTICE:

“Identifying subgroups of women at risk for PPD based on aspects of their obstetric experience could help to screen for women who might benefit from early screening and interventions,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Alizée Froeliger, MD, MPH, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bordeaux University Hospital in France, and was published online in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study population was derived from a randomized controlled trial, which may have underestimated the prevalence of PPD. The use of a self-administered questionnaire for PPD screening may not have provided a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, this study did not assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

DISCLOSURES:

The TRAAP2 trial was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Health under its Clinical Research Hospital Program. One author reported carrying out consultancy work and lecturing for Ferring Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, and other pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

About one in six women experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) 2 months after cesarean delivery, with certain obstetric factors such as emergency cesarean delivery before labor, cesarean delivery after labor induction, lack of social support in the operating room, and severe postoperative pain influencing the risk.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a prospective ancillary cohort study of the Tranexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage after Cesarean Delivery (TRAAP2) trial to examine the prevalence of PPD 2 months after cesarean delivery and associated risk factors.
• A total of 2793 women (median age, 33.5 years) were included who had a cesarean delivery at 34 or more weeks of gestation; they completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-administered questionnaire, at 2 months after delivery.
• Information about the cesarean delivery, postpartum blood loss, immediate postpartum period, psychiatric history, and memories of delivery and postoperative pain were prospectively collected.
• Medical records were used to obtain details about characteristics of patients; 5.0% had a psychiatric history (2.4% composed of depression).
• The main endpoint was a positive screening for symptoms consistent with this depression — defined as a PPD diagnosis — 2 months after caesarian delivery, with an EPDS score of 13 or higher.

TAKEAWAY:

• The prevalence of a provisional PPD diagnosis at 2 months after cesarean delivery was 16.4% (95% CI, 14.9-18.0) with an EPDS score of 13 or higher and was 23.1% (95% CI, 21.4-24.9%) with a cutoff value of 11 or higher.
• Women who had an emergency cesarean delivery before labor had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a normal cesarean delivery before labor started (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.15-2.50); women who had started labor after induction but then had a cesarean delivery also had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a cesarean delivery before going into labor (aOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.84).
• Severe pain during the postpartum stay (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.32-2.26) and bad memories of delivery (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.14-2.45) were also risk factors for PPD.
• However, women who had social support in the operating room showed a 27% lower risk for PPD (P = .02).

IN PRACTICE:

“Identifying subgroups of women at risk for PPD based on aspects of their obstetric experience could help to screen for women who might benefit from early screening and interventions,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Alizée Froeliger, MD, MPH, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bordeaux University Hospital in France, and was published online in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study population was derived from a randomized controlled trial, which may have underestimated the prevalence of PPD. The use of a self-administered questionnaire for PPD screening may not have provided a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, this study did not assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

DISCLOSURES:

The TRAAP2 trial was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Health under its Clinical Research Hospital Program. One author reported carrying out consultancy work and lecturing for Ferring Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, and other pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

About one in six women experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) 2 months after cesarean delivery, with certain obstetric factors such as emergency cesarean delivery before labor, cesarean delivery after labor induction, lack of social support in the operating room, and severe postoperative pain influencing the risk.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a prospective ancillary cohort study of the Tranexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage after Cesarean Delivery (TRAAP2) trial to examine the prevalence of PPD 2 months after cesarean delivery and associated risk factors.
• A total of 2793 women (median age, 33.5 years) were included who had a cesarean delivery at 34 or more weeks of gestation; they completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a self-administered questionnaire, at 2 months after delivery.
• Information about the cesarean delivery, postpartum blood loss, immediate postpartum period, psychiatric history, and memories of delivery and postoperative pain were prospectively collected.
• Medical records were used to obtain details about characteristics of patients; 5.0% had a psychiatric history (2.4% composed of depression).
• The main endpoint was a positive screening for symptoms consistent with this depression — defined as a PPD diagnosis — 2 months after caesarian delivery, with an EPDS score of 13 or higher.

TAKEAWAY:

• The prevalence of a provisional PPD diagnosis at 2 months after cesarean delivery was 16.4% (95% CI, 14.9-18.0) with an EPDS score of 13 or higher and was 23.1% (95% CI, 21.4-24.9%) with a cutoff value of 11 or higher.
• Women who had an emergency cesarean delivery before labor had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a normal cesarean delivery before labor started (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.15-2.50); women who had started labor after induction but then had a cesarean delivery also had a higher risk for PPD than those who had a cesarean delivery before going into labor (aOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.84).
• Severe pain during the postpartum stay (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.32-2.26) and bad memories of delivery (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.14-2.45) were also risk factors for PPD.
• However, women who had social support in the operating room showed a 27% lower risk for PPD (P = .02).

IN PRACTICE:

“Identifying subgroups of women at risk for PPD based on aspects of their obstetric experience could help to screen for women who might benefit from early screening and interventions,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Alizée Froeliger, MD, MPH, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Bordeaux University Hospital in France, and was published online in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

LIMITATIONS:

The study population was derived from a randomized controlled trial, which may have underestimated the prevalence of PPD. The use of a self-administered questionnaire for PPD screening may not have provided a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, this study did not assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

DISCLOSURES:

The TRAAP2 trial was supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Health under its Clinical Research Hospital Program. One author reported carrying out consultancy work and lecturing for Ferring Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, and other pharmaceutical companies.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Increased telehealth use in primary care practices is associated with reduced rates of low-value cervical cancer screening and thyroid testing. No significant association is found between telehealth use and most other low-value care services.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using Medicare fee-for-service claims data from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.
• A total of 577,928 Medicare beneficiaries attributed to 2552 primary care practices in Michigan were included in the study.
• Telehealth use was stratified into low, medium, and high tertiles based on the number of telehealth services per 1000 beneficiaries in 2022.
• Low-value care was assessed using eight claims-based measures relevant to primary care, grouped into office-based, laboratory-based, imaging-based, and mixed-modality services.
• Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between practice-level telehealth use and rates of low-value care services, controlling for practice-level characteristics.

TAKEAWAY:

• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value cervical cancer screening (–2.9 services per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –5.3 to –0.4).
• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value thyroid testing (–40 tests per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –70 to –9).
• No significant association was found between practice-level telehealth use and rates of other low-value care services.
• The findings suggested that telehealth can be used to deliver primary care services without introducing wasteful or unnecessary care and can even reduce low-value care.

IN PRACTICE:

“While the rapid growth of telehealth has enhanced access to care for individuals, it has also raised concern for unintended consequences in the form of wasteful or unnecessary care, ie, low-value care. Our study suggests that increased practice-level telehealth use was not associated with the delivery of low-value care services in primary care and may even help reduce office-based low-value care,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Terrence Liu, MD, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was performed among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with a Michigan residence and may not be generalizable to the broader Medicare beneficiary population. Administrative claims data do not include clinical information, which limited the ability to measure overall quality of care. The study defined telehealth use at the practice level and did not assess individual outcomes. Additional research is needed at a national level to determine the impact of telehealth on low-value care services in primary care.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Liu received funding from the University of Michigan National Clinician Scholars Program and Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Increased telehealth use in primary care practices is associated with reduced rates of low-value cervical cancer screening and thyroid testing. No significant association is found between telehealth use and most other low-value care services.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using Medicare fee-for-service claims data from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.
• A total of 577,928 Medicare beneficiaries attributed to 2552 primary care practices in Michigan were included in the study.
• Telehealth use was stratified into low, medium, and high tertiles based on the number of telehealth services per 1000 beneficiaries in 2022.
• Low-value care was assessed using eight claims-based measures relevant to primary care, grouped into office-based, laboratory-based, imaging-based, and mixed-modality services.
• Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between practice-level telehealth use and rates of low-value care services, controlling for practice-level characteristics.

TAKEAWAY:

• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value cervical cancer screening (–2.9 services per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –5.3 to –0.4).
• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value thyroid testing (–40 tests per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –70 to –9).
• No significant association was found between practice-level telehealth use and rates of other low-value care services.
• The findings suggested that telehealth can be used to deliver primary care services without introducing wasteful or unnecessary care and can even reduce low-value care.

IN PRACTICE:

“While the rapid growth of telehealth has enhanced access to care for individuals, it has also raised concern for unintended consequences in the form of wasteful or unnecessary care, ie, low-value care. Our study suggests that increased practice-level telehealth use was not associated with the delivery of low-value care services in primary care and may even help reduce office-based low-value care,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Terrence Liu, MD, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was performed among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with a Michigan residence and may not be generalizable to the broader Medicare beneficiary population. Administrative claims data do not include clinical information, which limited the ability to measure overall quality of care. The study defined telehealth use at the practice level and did not assess individual outcomes. Additional research is needed at a national level to determine the impact of telehealth on low-value care services in primary care.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Liu received funding from the University of Michigan National Clinician Scholars Program and Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Increased telehealth use in primary care practices is associated with reduced rates of low-value cervical cancer screening and thyroid testing. No significant association is found between telehealth use and most other low-value care services.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using Medicare fee-for-service claims data from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.
• A total of 577,928 Medicare beneficiaries attributed to 2552 primary care practices in Michigan were included in the study.
• Telehealth use was stratified into low, medium, and high tertiles based on the number of telehealth services per 1000 beneficiaries in 2022.
• Low-value care was assessed using eight claims-based measures relevant to primary care, grouped into office-based, laboratory-based, imaging-based, and mixed-modality services.
• Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between practice-level telehealth use and rates of low-value care services, controlling for practice-level characteristics.

TAKEAWAY:

• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value cervical cancer screening (–2.9 services per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –5.3 to –0.4).
• High practice-level telehealth use was associated with lower rates of low-value thyroid testing (–40 tests per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% CI, –70 to –9).
• No significant association was found between practice-level telehealth use and rates of other low-value care services.
• The findings suggested that telehealth can be used to deliver primary care services without introducing wasteful or unnecessary care and can even reduce low-value care.

IN PRACTICE:

“While the rapid growth of telehealth has enhanced access to care for individuals, it has also raised concern for unintended consequences in the form of wasteful or unnecessary care, ie, low-value care. Our study suggests that increased practice-level telehealth use was not associated with the delivery of low-value care services in primary care and may even help reduce office-based low-value care,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Terrence Liu, MD, MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. It was published online in JAMA Network Open.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was performed among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with a Michigan residence and may not be generalizable to the broader Medicare beneficiary population. Administrative claims data do not include clinical information, which limited the ability to measure overall quality of care. The study defined telehealth use at the practice level and did not assess individual outcomes. Additional research is needed at a national level to determine the impact of telehealth on low-value care services in primary care.

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Liu received funding from the University of Michigan National Clinician Scholars Program and Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The majority of patients may safely take glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) before elective surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopies, according to updated guidance from five medical societies.

The new guidance, contrasting with earlier recommendations, says these incrementally used agents can be taken up until the day of surgery, but patients are advised to follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before the procedure. The decision to proceed with endoscopy and other procedures should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and interdisciplinary care teams in conjunction with minimization of the aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying, the guidance stresses.

The five endorsing organizations are the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American Gastroenterological Association, International Society of Perioperative Care of Patients with Obesity, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. The societies emphasize that the statement is intended as guidance only and is not an evidence-based formal guideline.

GLP-1 RAs are known to delay gastric emptying, raising concerns about regurgitation, aspiration, and airway compromise during anesthesia. Rare serious adverse events have also been observed, prompting the ASA in 2023 to recommend holding these agents for 1 week for the injectable form and 1 day for the oral form before all procedures requiring anesthesia. 

University of Michigan

That abundance of caution, however, had negative impacts of its own. “This guidance has led to cancellations and postponements of many endoscopic and surgical procedures or required patients to undergo general anesthesia who may otherwise have had their procedures performed under moderate sedation,” said guidance coauthor Allison R. Schulman, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine and surgery and chief of endoscopy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Nearly all institutions have been forced to revise preprocedural protocols, despite a lack of high-level evidence to suggest that these adjustments are necessary.”

“Studies have yielded mixed results as to whether patients on GLP-1s are at increased risk of these events, and the limited data available are inconsistent,” Schulman said. “As a result, there are inconsistencies in the recommendations from various societies leading to growing uncertainty with proceduralists on how to provide safe, effective, and timely procedural care to patients taking GLP-1 RAs.”

The new joint-society guidance may alleviate some of the uncertainty. Among the recommendations:

• Continuing GLP-1 RAs in the perioperative period should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and all care teams balancing the metabolic need for the GLP-1 RA with individual patient risk.
• Certain variables may increase the risk for delayed gastric emptying and aspiration with the periprocedural use of GLP-1 RAs: escalation phase — This phase vs the maintenance phase is associated with a higher risk for delayed gastric emptying; higher dose — the higher the dose, the greater the risk for gastrointestinal (GI) side effects; weekly dosing — GI side effects are more common with weekly vs daily formulations; presence of GI symptoms — nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and constipation may suggest delayed gastric emptying; and medical problems beyond GLP-1 RA indications with GI effects — assess for such conditions as bowel dysmotility, gastroparesis, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Risk factors should be assessed in advance to allow sufficient time to adjust preoperative care, including diet modification and medication bridging if GLP-1 RA cessation is deemed advisable.
• If retained gastric contents are a concern on the day of a procedure, point-of-care gastric ultrasound could be used to assess aspiration risk, resources permitting.
• The aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying should be minimized by preoperative diet modification and/or altering the anesthesia plan to consider rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation. A 24-hour preoperative liquid diet, as before colonoscopy and bariatric surgery, can be utilized when delayed gastric emptying is a concern.
• When concern about retained gastric contents exists on procedure day, providers should engage patients in a shared decision-making model and consider the benefits and risks of rapid-sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation to minimize aspiration risk vs procedure cancellation.

“Safe continuation of surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy, and prevention of procedure cancellation, for patients on GLP-1 RAs can be prioritized following the recommendations above, as would occur for other patient populations with gastroparesis,” the guidance panel wrote.

Digestive Health Center of Huntington

Commenting on the statement but not involved in it, David B. Purow, MD, managing director of the Digestive Health Center at Northwell Health/Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York, said the recommendations will encourage clinicians to be more discerning about actual risk in individual cases rather than follow the previous blanket recommendation to stop these agents before procedures requiring sedation. 

While GLP-1 RAs were prescribed for the relatively small number of patients with diabetes, he said, the risk was not apparent but became clearer with the widespread use of these agents for weight loss — often unregulated and undisclosed to care providers.

“The pendulum shifted too far the other way, and now it’s shifted back,” he said in an interview. “The new guidance is great because now we can be more thoughtful about managing individual patients.” He cited, for instance, the recommendations on the greater risk in patients in the dose escalation phase or on higher doses, and the risk-reducing measure of a liquid diet for 24 hours before surgery.

His center is already using point-of-care ultrasound and recently had a case in which a patient who forgot and took his GLP-1 RA before a scheduled procedure was found on ultrasound to have a full stomach. “In some cases, these drugs can cause an almost gastroparesis level of delayed emptying,” Purow said.

Purow thinks this early guidance will probably progress to firm guidelines within a year. Schulman is more cautious. “Our understanding of this complex topic is increasing rapidly, and ongoing clinical research will ultimately lead to evidence-based guidelines in this changing landscape,” she said.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Schulman is a consultant for Apollo Endosurgery, Boston Scientific, Olympus, Microtech, and Fractyl. Purow had no competing interests to declare.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The majority of patients may safely take glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) before elective surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopies, according to updated guidance from five medical societies.

The new guidance, contrasting with earlier recommendations, says these incrementally used agents can be taken up until the day of surgery, but patients are advised to follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before the procedure. The decision to proceed with endoscopy and other procedures should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and interdisciplinary care teams in conjunction with minimization of the aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying, the guidance stresses.

The five endorsing organizations are the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American Gastroenterological Association, International Society of Perioperative Care of Patients with Obesity, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. The societies emphasize that the statement is intended as guidance only and is not an evidence-based formal guideline.

GLP-1 RAs are known to delay gastric emptying, raising concerns about regurgitation, aspiration, and airway compromise during anesthesia. Rare serious adverse events have also been observed, prompting the ASA in 2023 to recommend holding these agents for 1 week for the injectable form and 1 day for the oral form before all procedures requiring anesthesia. 

University of Michigan

That abundance of caution, however, had negative impacts of its own. “This guidance has led to cancellations and postponements of many endoscopic and surgical procedures or required patients to undergo general anesthesia who may otherwise have had their procedures performed under moderate sedation,” said guidance coauthor Allison R. Schulman, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine and surgery and chief of endoscopy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Nearly all institutions have been forced to revise preprocedural protocols, despite a lack of high-level evidence to suggest that these adjustments are necessary.”

“Studies have yielded mixed results as to whether patients on GLP-1s are at increased risk of these events, and the limited data available are inconsistent,” Schulman said. “As a result, there are inconsistencies in the recommendations from various societies leading to growing uncertainty with proceduralists on how to provide safe, effective, and timely procedural care to patients taking GLP-1 RAs.”

The new joint-society guidance may alleviate some of the uncertainty. Among the recommendations:

• Continuing GLP-1 RAs in the perioperative period should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and all care teams balancing the metabolic need for the GLP-1 RA with individual patient risk.
• Certain variables may increase the risk for delayed gastric emptying and aspiration with the periprocedural use of GLP-1 RAs: escalation phase — This phase vs the maintenance phase is associated with a higher risk for delayed gastric emptying; higher dose — the higher the dose, the greater the risk for gastrointestinal (GI) side effects; weekly dosing — GI side effects are more common with weekly vs daily formulations; presence of GI symptoms — nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and constipation may suggest delayed gastric emptying; and medical problems beyond GLP-1 RA indications with GI effects — assess for such conditions as bowel dysmotility, gastroparesis, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Risk factors should be assessed in advance to allow sufficient time to adjust preoperative care, including diet modification and medication bridging if GLP-1 RA cessation is deemed advisable.
• If retained gastric contents are a concern on the day of a procedure, point-of-care gastric ultrasound could be used to assess aspiration risk, resources permitting.
• The aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying should be minimized by preoperative diet modification and/or altering the anesthesia plan to consider rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation. A 24-hour preoperative liquid diet, as before colonoscopy and bariatric surgery, can be utilized when delayed gastric emptying is a concern.
• When concern about retained gastric contents exists on procedure day, providers should engage patients in a shared decision-making model and consider the benefits and risks of rapid-sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation to minimize aspiration risk vs procedure cancellation.

“Safe continuation of surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy, and prevention of procedure cancellation, for patients on GLP-1 RAs can be prioritized following the recommendations above, as would occur for other patient populations with gastroparesis,” the guidance panel wrote.

Digestive Health Center of Huntington

Commenting on the statement but not involved in it, David B. Purow, MD, managing director of the Digestive Health Center at Northwell Health/Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York, said the recommendations will encourage clinicians to be more discerning about actual risk in individual cases rather than follow the previous blanket recommendation to stop these agents before procedures requiring sedation. 

While GLP-1 RAs were prescribed for the relatively small number of patients with diabetes, he said, the risk was not apparent but became clearer with the widespread use of these agents for weight loss — often unregulated and undisclosed to care providers.

“The pendulum shifted too far the other way, and now it’s shifted back,” he said in an interview. “The new guidance is great because now we can be more thoughtful about managing individual patients.” He cited, for instance, the recommendations on the greater risk in patients in the dose escalation phase or on higher doses, and the risk-reducing measure of a liquid diet for 24 hours before surgery.

His center is already using point-of-care ultrasound and recently had a case in which a patient who forgot and took his GLP-1 RA before a scheduled procedure was found on ultrasound to have a full stomach. “In some cases, these drugs can cause an almost gastroparesis level of delayed emptying,” Purow said.

Purow thinks this early guidance will probably progress to firm guidelines within a year. Schulman is more cautious. “Our understanding of this complex topic is increasing rapidly, and ongoing clinical research will ultimately lead to evidence-based guidelines in this changing landscape,” she said.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Schulman is a consultant for Apollo Endosurgery, Boston Scientific, Olympus, Microtech, and Fractyl. Purow had no competing interests to declare.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The majority of patients may safely take glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) before elective surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopies, according to updated guidance from five medical societies.

The new guidance, contrasting with earlier recommendations, says these incrementally used agents can be taken up until the day of surgery, but patients are advised to follow a liquid diet for 24 hours before the procedure. The decision to proceed with endoscopy and other procedures should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and interdisciplinary care teams in conjunction with minimization of the aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying, the guidance stresses.

The five endorsing organizations are the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), American Gastroenterological Association, International Society of Perioperative Care of Patients with Obesity, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. The societies emphasize that the statement is intended as guidance only and is not an evidence-based formal guideline.

GLP-1 RAs are known to delay gastric emptying, raising concerns about regurgitation, aspiration, and airway compromise during anesthesia. Rare serious adverse events have also been observed, prompting the ASA in 2023 to recommend holding these agents for 1 week for the injectable form and 1 day for the oral form before all procedures requiring anesthesia. 

University of Michigan

That abundance of caution, however, had negative impacts of its own. “This guidance has led to cancellations and postponements of many endoscopic and surgical procedures or required patients to undergo general anesthesia who may otherwise have had their procedures performed under moderate sedation,” said guidance coauthor Allison R. Schulman, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine and surgery and chief of endoscopy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “Nearly all institutions have been forced to revise preprocedural protocols, despite a lack of high-level evidence to suggest that these adjustments are necessary.”

“Studies have yielded mixed results as to whether patients on GLP-1s are at increased risk of these events, and the limited data available are inconsistent,” Schulman said. “As a result, there are inconsistencies in the recommendations from various societies leading to growing uncertainty with proceduralists on how to provide safe, effective, and timely procedural care to patients taking GLP-1 RAs.”

The new joint-society guidance may alleviate some of the uncertainty. Among the recommendations:

• Continuing GLP-1 RAs in the perioperative period should be based on shared decision-making with the patient and all care teams balancing the metabolic need for the GLP-1 RA with individual patient risk.
• Certain variables may increase the risk for delayed gastric emptying and aspiration with the periprocedural use of GLP-1 RAs: escalation phase — This phase vs the maintenance phase is associated with a higher risk for delayed gastric emptying; higher dose — the higher the dose, the greater the risk for gastrointestinal (GI) side effects; weekly dosing — GI side effects are more common with weekly vs daily formulations; presence of GI symptoms — nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and constipation may suggest delayed gastric emptying; and medical problems beyond GLP-1 RA indications with GI effects — assess for such conditions as bowel dysmotility, gastroparesis, and Parkinson’s disease.
• Risk factors should be assessed in advance to allow sufficient time to adjust preoperative care, including diet modification and medication bridging if GLP-1 RA cessation is deemed advisable.
• If retained gastric contents are a concern on the day of a procedure, point-of-care gastric ultrasound could be used to assess aspiration risk, resources permitting.
• The aspiration risk from delayed gastric emptying should be minimized by preoperative diet modification and/or altering the anesthesia plan to consider rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation. A 24-hour preoperative liquid diet, as before colonoscopy and bariatric surgery, can be utilized when delayed gastric emptying is a concern.
• When concern about retained gastric contents exists on procedure day, providers should engage patients in a shared decision-making model and consider the benefits and risks of rapid-sequence induction of general anesthesia for tracheal intubation to minimize aspiration risk vs procedure cancellation.

“Safe continuation of surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy, and prevention of procedure cancellation, for patients on GLP-1 RAs can be prioritized following the recommendations above, as would occur for other patient populations with gastroparesis,” the guidance panel wrote.

Digestive Health Center of Huntington

Commenting on the statement but not involved in it, David B. Purow, MD, managing director of the Digestive Health Center at Northwell Health/Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York, said the recommendations will encourage clinicians to be more discerning about actual risk in individual cases rather than follow the previous blanket recommendation to stop these agents before procedures requiring sedation. 

While GLP-1 RAs were prescribed for the relatively small number of patients with diabetes, he said, the risk was not apparent but became clearer with the widespread use of these agents for weight loss — often unregulated and undisclosed to care providers.

“The pendulum shifted too far the other way, and now it’s shifted back,” he said in an interview. “The new guidance is great because now we can be more thoughtful about managing individual patients.” He cited, for instance, the recommendations on the greater risk in patients in the dose escalation phase or on higher doses, and the risk-reducing measure of a liquid diet for 24 hours before surgery.

His center is already using point-of-care ultrasound and recently had a case in which a patient who forgot and took his GLP-1 RA before a scheduled procedure was found on ultrasound to have a full stomach. “In some cases, these drugs can cause an almost gastroparesis level of delayed emptying,” Purow said.

Purow thinks this early guidance will probably progress to firm guidelines within a year. Schulman is more cautious. “Our understanding of this complex topic is increasing rapidly, and ongoing clinical research will ultimately lead to evidence-based guidelines in this changing landscape,” she said.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Schulman is a consultant for Apollo Endosurgery, Boston Scientific, Olympus, Microtech, and Fractyl. Purow had no competing interests to declare.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

PHILADELPHIA — A new 10-day treatment regimen with the oral potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan, and the antibiotics levofloxacin and amoxicillin, was significantly more effective at eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection than triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin, according to the results of a randomized, multicenter study.

In addition, the triple therapy regimen with vonoprazan was generally better tolerated than the 14-day omeprazole-based regimen.

The new treatment combination was created to tackle the two main reasons that patients with H pylori experience treatment failure: Inadequate acid suppressant activity and antibiotic resistance, said principal investigator Kachonsak Yongwatana, MD, from Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Vonoprazan” is the more potent option for acid suppression, and “levofloxacin” addresses antibiotic resistance, he explained.

Yongwatana presented the findings (Abstract 41) at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. The ACG recently released a clinical guideline on the treatment of H pylori infection. 
 

Robust Eradication Rates

Yongwatana and colleagues enrolled adult patients with H pylori infections at four hospitals in Thailand between December 2022 and September 2023. The presence of H pylori was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with positive rapid urease test or positive test on tissue biopsy. 

Patients were then randomized into two treatment groups: The 10-day VAL group (vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 10 days) and the 14-day OAC group (omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily for 14 days). Eradication was assessed by urea breath test 4 weeks after completion of treatment.

There were 280 patients in total, with 140 in each group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The most common endoscopic findings among all participants included erosive gastritis (38%), nonerosive gastritis (27%), and gastric ulcer (17%). 

In comparing the treatments, the researchers found that 10-day VAL led to significantly greater H pylori eradication rate than the 14-day OAC group in both intention-to-treat analysis (91.4 % vs 80.7%, P = .009) and per-protocol analysis (93.4% vs 83.7%, P = .012). 

Vonoprazan-based therapy was also well tolerated by participants. Patients in the 10-day VAL group had significantly lower rates of experiencing a bitter taste (2.1% vs 42.9%, P < .001) and bloating (5% vs 12.1%, P = .033) than those in the 14-day OAC group. 
 

Isolating the BMI Effect

The researchers conducted a subgroup analysis on potential factors influencing response, which revealed that having a body mass index (BMI) < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher chance at successful H pylori eradication (relative risk [RR], 2.27; P = .049). 

They then analyzed whether this BMI threshold was predictive in the separate treatment regimens. Although having a BMI < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher eradication rate in the 14-day OAC group (RR, 3.34; P = .026), no such effect was noted in the 10-day VAL group (RR, 1.10; P = .888).

The influence of BMI could be caused by the bioavailability of the treatments used in the regimen, Younwatana said in an interview. He and his colleagues recommended against using the 14-day OAC regimen in those with BMI ≥ 23.5.

“In patients with a high BMI, we should be concerned that normal proton pump inhibitors may not work,” he said. “You have to step up to the higher-potency options.” 
 

Seeking Confirmation in Other Populations

Session comoderator Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, MSc, professor of clinical medicine and the director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, director of the DIGEST program, and the associate chair of medicine for Outreach and Network at New York–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in New York City, said in an interview that the promising results merit confirmation in other populations. 

“When you see a study that is coming out of one country, when there could be issues related to antibiotic sensitivity in H pylori, it really is important to decide whether or not this is applicable to other patient populations,” said Schnoll-Sussman, who was not involved in the study. 

She noted that this is also true of the findings from the subgroup as it is unclear whether average rates of BMI are notably lower in Thailand from other countries.

“As we know, BMI affects so many things with disease states. So, it’s a possibility in a country where the BMI is actually lower, there may be something else about these individuals in terms of their wellness status that could be underlying the effect.” 

The study had no specific funding, although Takeda supplied treatments used in the analysis. Yongwatana reported no relevant financial relationships. Schnoll-Sussman reported serving as an advisory committee/board member for Braintree, Ethicon, Implantica, and Phathom. 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

PHILADELPHIA — A new 10-day treatment regimen with the oral potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan, and the antibiotics levofloxacin and amoxicillin, was significantly more effective at eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection than triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin, according to the results of a randomized, multicenter study.

In addition, the triple therapy regimen with vonoprazan was generally better tolerated than the 14-day omeprazole-based regimen.

The new treatment combination was created to tackle the two main reasons that patients with H pylori experience treatment failure: Inadequate acid suppressant activity and antibiotic resistance, said principal investigator Kachonsak Yongwatana, MD, from Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Vonoprazan” is the more potent option for acid suppression, and “levofloxacin” addresses antibiotic resistance, he explained.

Yongwatana presented the findings (Abstract 41) at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. The ACG recently released a clinical guideline on the treatment of H pylori infection. 
 

Robust Eradication Rates

Yongwatana and colleagues enrolled adult patients with H pylori infections at four hospitals in Thailand between December 2022 and September 2023. The presence of H pylori was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with positive rapid urease test or positive test on tissue biopsy. 

Patients were then randomized into two treatment groups: The 10-day VAL group (vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 10 days) and the 14-day OAC group (omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily for 14 days). Eradication was assessed by urea breath test 4 weeks after completion of treatment.

There were 280 patients in total, with 140 in each group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The most common endoscopic findings among all participants included erosive gastritis (38%), nonerosive gastritis (27%), and gastric ulcer (17%). 

In comparing the treatments, the researchers found that 10-day VAL led to significantly greater H pylori eradication rate than the 14-day OAC group in both intention-to-treat analysis (91.4 % vs 80.7%, P = .009) and per-protocol analysis (93.4% vs 83.7%, P = .012). 

Vonoprazan-based therapy was also well tolerated by participants. Patients in the 10-day VAL group had significantly lower rates of experiencing a bitter taste (2.1% vs 42.9%, P < .001) and bloating (5% vs 12.1%, P = .033) than those in the 14-day OAC group. 
 

Isolating the BMI Effect

The researchers conducted a subgroup analysis on potential factors influencing response, which revealed that having a body mass index (BMI) < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher chance at successful H pylori eradication (relative risk [RR], 2.27; P = .049). 

They then analyzed whether this BMI threshold was predictive in the separate treatment regimens. Although having a BMI < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher eradication rate in the 14-day OAC group (RR, 3.34; P = .026), no such effect was noted in the 10-day VAL group (RR, 1.10; P = .888).

The influence of BMI could be caused by the bioavailability of the treatments used in the regimen, Younwatana said in an interview. He and his colleagues recommended against using the 14-day OAC regimen in those with BMI ≥ 23.5.

“In patients with a high BMI, we should be concerned that normal proton pump inhibitors may not work,” he said. “You have to step up to the higher-potency options.” 
 

Seeking Confirmation in Other Populations

Session comoderator Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, MSc, professor of clinical medicine and the director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, director of the DIGEST program, and the associate chair of medicine for Outreach and Network at New York–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in New York City, said in an interview that the promising results merit confirmation in other populations. 

“When you see a study that is coming out of one country, when there could be issues related to antibiotic sensitivity in H pylori, it really is important to decide whether or not this is applicable to other patient populations,” said Schnoll-Sussman, who was not involved in the study. 

She noted that this is also true of the findings from the subgroup as it is unclear whether average rates of BMI are notably lower in Thailand from other countries.

“As we know, BMI affects so many things with disease states. So, it’s a possibility in a country where the BMI is actually lower, there may be something else about these individuals in terms of their wellness status that could be underlying the effect.” 

The study had no specific funding, although Takeda supplied treatments used in the analysis. Yongwatana reported no relevant financial relationships. Schnoll-Sussman reported serving as an advisory committee/board member for Braintree, Ethicon, Implantica, and Phathom. 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

PHILADELPHIA — A new 10-day treatment regimen with the oral potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan, and the antibiotics levofloxacin and amoxicillin, was significantly more effective at eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection than triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin, according to the results of a randomized, multicenter study.

In addition, the triple therapy regimen with vonoprazan was generally better tolerated than the 14-day omeprazole-based regimen.

The new treatment combination was created to tackle the two main reasons that patients with H pylori experience treatment failure: Inadequate acid suppressant activity and antibiotic resistance, said principal investigator Kachonsak Yongwatana, MD, from Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Vonoprazan” is the more potent option for acid suppression, and “levofloxacin” addresses antibiotic resistance, he explained.

Yongwatana presented the findings (Abstract 41) at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. The ACG recently released a clinical guideline on the treatment of H pylori infection. 
 

Robust Eradication Rates

Yongwatana and colleagues enrolled adult patients with H pylori infections at four hospitals in Thailand between December 2022 and September 2023. The presence of H pylori was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with positive rapid urease test or positive test on tissue biopsy. 

Patients were then randomized into two treatment groups: The 10-day VAL group (vonoprazan 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and levofloxacin 500 mg once daily for 10 days) and the 14-day OAC group (omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily for 14 days). Eradication was assessed by urea breath test 4 weeks after completion of treatment.

There were 280 patients in total, with 140 in each group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The most common endoscopic findings among all participants included erosive gastritis (38%), nonerosive gastritis (27%), and gastric ulcer (17%). 

In comparing the treatments, the researchers found that 10-day VAL led to significantly greater H pylori eradication rate than the 14-day OAC group in both intention-to-treat analysis (91.4 % vs 80.7%, P = .009) and per-protocol analysis (93.4% vs 83.7%, P = .012). 

Vonoprazan-based therapy was also well tolerated by participants. Patients in the 10-day VAL group had significantly lower rates of experiencing a bitter taste (2.1% vs 42.9%, P < .001) and bloating (5% vs 12.1%, P = .033) than those in the 14-day OAC group. 
 

Isolating the BMI Effect

The researchers conducted a subgroup analysis on potential factors influencing response, which revealed that having a body mass index (BMI) < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher chance at successful H pylori eradication (relative risk [RR], 2.27; P = .049). 

They then analyzed whether this BMI threshold was predictive in the separate treatment regimens. Although having a BMI < 23.5 was significantly associated with a higher eradication rate in the 14-day OAC group (RR, 3.34; P = .026), no such effect was noted in the 10-day VAL group (RR, 1.10; P = .888).

The influence of BMI could be caused by the bioavailability of the treatments used in the regimen, Younwatana said in an interview. He and his colleagues recommended against using the 14-day OAC regimen in those with BMI ≥ 23.5.

“In patients with a high BMI, we should be concerned that normal proton pump inhibitors may not work,” he said. “You have to step up to the higher-potency options.” 
 

Seeking Confirmation in Other Populations

Session comoderator Felice Schnoll-Sussman, MD, MSc, professor of clinical medicine and the director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, director of the DIGEST program, and the associate chair of medicine for Outreach and Network at New York–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in New York City, said in an interview that the promising results merit confirmation in other populations. 

“When you see a study that is coming out of one country, when there could be issues related to antibiotic sensitivity in H pylori, it really is important to decide whether or not this is applicable to other patient populations,” said Schnoll-Sussman, who was not involved in the study. 

She noted that this is also true of the findings from the subgroup as it is unclear whether average rates of BMI are notably lower in Thailand from other countries.

“As we know, BMI affects so many things with disease states. So, it’s a possibility in a country where the BMI is actually lower, there may be something else about these individuals in terms of their wellness status that could be underlying the effect.” 

The study had no specific funding, although Takeda supplied treatments used in the analysis. Yongwatana reported no relevant financial relationships. Schnoll-Sussman reported serving as an advisory committee/board member for Braintree, Ethicon, Implantica, and Phathom. 

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

The Latine/Hispanic population in the United States comprises one of the largest and youngest skin of color communities.^1,2 In 2020, this group accounted for 19% of all Americans—a percentage expected to increase to more than 25% by 2060.³

It must be emphasized that the Latine/Hispanic community in the United States is incredibly diverse.⁴ Approximately one-third of individuals in this group are foreign-born, and this community is made up of people from all racialized groups, religions, languages, and cultural identities.² The heterogeneity of the Latine/Hispanic population translates into a wide representation of skin tones, reflecting a rich range of ancestries, ethnicities, and cultures. The percentage of individuals from each origin group may differ according to where they live in the United States; for instance, individuals who identify as Mexican comprise more than 80% of the Latine/Hispanic population in both Texas and California but only 17% in Florida, where more than half of Latine/Hispanic people identify as Cuban or Puerto Rican.^4,5 As a result, when it comes to skin cancer epidemiology, variations in incidence and mortality may exist within each of these subgroups who identify as part of the Latine/Hispanic community, as reported for other cancers.^6,7 Further research is needed to investigate these potential differences.Unfortunately, considerable health disparities persist among this rapidly growing population, including increased morbidity and mortality from melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) despite overall low lifetime incidence.^8,9 In this review, the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and ethnic disparities for skin cancer among the US Latine/Hispanic population are summarized; other factors impacting overall health and health care, including sociocultural factors, also are briefly discussed.

Terminology

Before a meaningful dialogue can be had about skin cancer in the Latine/Hispanic population, it is important to contextualize the terms used to identify this patient population, including Latino/Latine and Hispanic. In the early 1970s, the United States adopted the term Hispanic as a way of conglomerating Spanish-speaking individuals from Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The goal was to implement a common identifier that enabled the US government to study the economic and social development of these groups.¹⁰ Nevertheless, considerable differences (eg, variations in skin pigmentation, sun sensitivity) exist among Hispanic communities, with some having stronger European, African, or Amerindian influences due to colonization of their ­distinct countries.¹¹

In contrast, Latino is a geographic term and refers to people with roots in Latin America and the Caribbean (Table 1).^12,13 For example, a person from Brazil may be considered Latino but not Hispanic as Brazilians speak Portuguese; alternatively, Spaniards (who are considered Hispanic) are not Latino because Spain is not a Latin American country. A person from Mexico would be considered both Latino and Hispanic.¹³

Melanoma

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is more likely to metastasize compared to other forms of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). For Latine/Hispanic individuals living in the United States, the lifetime risk for melanoma is 1 in 200 compared to 1 in 33 for NHW individuals.¹⁴ While the lifetime risk for melanoma is low for the Latine/Hispanic population, Hispanic individuals are diagnosed with melanoma at an earlier age (mean, 56 years), and the rate of new cases is marginally higher for women (4.9 per 100,000) compared to men (4.8 per 100,000).^15,16

Typical sites of melanoma manifestation in Latine/Hispanic individuals include the torso (most common site in Hispanic men), lower extremities (most common site in Hispanic women), and acral sites (palms, soles, and nails).^9,16,17 Anatomic location also can vary according to age for both men and women. For men, the incidence of melanoma on the trunk appears to decrease with age, while the incidence on the head and neck may increase. For women, the incidence of melanoma on the lower extremities and hip increases with age. Cutaneous melanoma may manifest as a lesion with asymmetry, irregular borders, variation in pigmentation, large diameter (>6 mm), and evolution over time. In patients with skin of color, melanoma easily can be missed, as it also typically mimics more benign skin conditions and may develop from an existing black- or dark brown–­pigmented macule.¹⁸ The most common histologic subtype reported among Latine/Hispanic individuals in the United States is superficial spreading melanoma (20%–23%) followed by nodular melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma.^16,19 Until additional risk factors associated with melanoma susceptibility in Hispanic/Latine people are better elucidated, it may be appropriate to use an alternative acronym, such as CUBED (Table 2), in addition to the standard ABCDE system to help recognize potential melanoma on acral sites.¹⁸

Keratinocyte Carcinomas

Keratinocyte carcinomas, also known as nonmelanoma skin cancers, include BCC and SCC. In comparison to the high-quality data available for melanoma from cancer registries, there are less reliable incidence data for KCs, especially among individuals with skin of color.²⁵ As a result, KC epidemiology in the United States is drawn largely from case series (especially for individuals with skin of color) or claims data from small data sets often from geographically restricted regions within the United States.^25,26

Basal Cell Carcinoma—Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic individuals. Among those with lighter skin tones, the lifetime risk for BCC is about 30%.^27,28 Men typically are affected at a higher rate than women, and the median age for diagnosis is 68 years.²⁹ The development of BCC primarily is linked to lifetime accumulated UV radiation exposure. Even though BCC has a low mortality rate, it can lead to substantial morbidity due to factors such as tumor location, size, and rate of invasion, resulting in cosmetic and functional issues. Given its low metastatic potential, treatment of BCC typically is aimed at local control.³⁰ Options for treatment include Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), curettage and electrodessication, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, and topical therapies. Systemic therapies are reserved for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease.³⁰

Latine/Hispanic patients characteristically present with BCCs on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. In most patients, BCC manifests as a translucent pearly nodule with superficial telangiectasias and/or a nonhealing ulcer with a central depression and rolled nontender borders. However, in patients with skin of color, 66% of BCCs manifest with pigmentation; in fact, pigmented BCC (a subtype of BCC) has been shown to have a higher prevalence among Hispanic individuals, with an incidence twice as frequent as in NHW individuals.³¹ In addition, there are reports of increased tendency among Latine/Hispanic individuals to develop multiple BCCs.^32,33

The relationship between UV exposure and KCs could explain the relatively higher incidence in populations with skin of color living in warmer climates, including Hispanic individuals.³⁴ Even so, the development of BCCs appears to correlate directly with the degree of pigmentation in the skin, as it is most common in individuals with lighter skin tones within the Hispanic population.^25,34,35 Other risk factors associated with BCC development include albinism, arsenic ingestion, chronic infections, immunosuppression, history of radiation treatment, and history of scars or ulcers due to physical/thermal trauma.^35-37

Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer among Latine/Hispanic patients. In contrast with NHW patients, evidence supporting the role of UV exposure as a primary risk factor for SCC in patients with skin of color remains limited.^25,38 Reports linking UV exposure and KCs in Hispanic and Black individuals predominantly include case series or population-based studies that do not consider levels of UV exposure.²⁵

More recently, genetic ancestry analyses of a large multiethnic cohort found an increased risk for cutaneous SCC among Latine/Hispanic individuals with European ancestry compared to those with Native American or African ancestry; however, these genetic ancestry associations were attenuated (although not eliminated) after considering skin pigmentation (using loci associated with skin pigmentation), history of sun exposure (using actinic keratoses as a covariate for chronic sun exposure), and sun-protected vs sun-exposed anatomic sites, supporting the role of other environmental or sociocultural factors in the development of SCC.³⁹ Similar to BCCs, immunosuppression, chronic scarring, skin irritation, and inflammatory disease also are documented risk factors.^9,32

Among NHW individuals with lighter skin tones, SCC characteristically manifests on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. Typically, a lesion may appear as a scaly erythematous papule or plaque that may be verrucous in nature or a nonhealing bleeding ulcer. In patients with more deeply pigmented skin, SCC tends to develop in the perianal region and on the penis and lower legs; pigmented lesions also may be present (as commonly reported in BCCs).^9,32,36

Unfortunately, the lower incidence of KCs and lack of surveillance in populations with skin of color result in a low index of clinical suspicion, leading to delayed diagnoses and increased morbidity.⁴⁰ Keratinocyte carcinomas are more costly to treat and require more health care resources for Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared to their NHW counterparts; for example, KCs are associated with more ambulatory visits, more prescription medications, and greater cost on a per-person, per-year basis in Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared with NHW patients.⁴¹ Moreover, a recent multicenter retrospective study found Hispanic patients had 17% larger MMS defects following treatment for KCs compared to NHW patients after adjustment for age, sex, and insurance type.⁴²

Hispanic patients tend to present initially with SCCs in areas associated with advanced disease, such as the anogenital region, penis, and the lower extremities. Latine and Black men have the highest incidence of penile SCC, which is rare with high morbidity and mortality.^32,43,44 The higher incidence of penile SCC among Hispanic individuals living in southern states could correspond to circumcision or HPV infection rates,⁴⁴ ultimately impacting incidence.⁴⁵

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare locally aggressive cutaneous sarcoma. According to population studies, overall incidence of DFSP is around 4.1 to 4.2 per million in the United States. Population-based studies on DFSP are limited, but available data suggest that Black patients as well as women have the highest incidence.⁴⁶

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is characterized by its capacity to invade surrounding tissues in a tentaclelike pattern.⁴⁷ This characteristic often leads to inadequate initial resection of the lesion as well as a high recurrence rate despite its low metastatic potential.⁴⁸ In early stages, DFSP typically manifests as an asymptomatic plaque with a slow growth rate. The color of the lesion ranges from reddish brown to flesh colored. The pigmented form of DFSP, known as Bednar tumor, is the most common among Black patients.⁴⁷ As the tumor grows, it tends to become firm and nodular. The most common location for DFSP is on the trunk or the upper and lower extremities.⁴⁷

Although current guidelines designate MMS as the first-line treatment for DFSP, the procedure may be inaccessible for certain populations.⁴⁹ Patients with skin of color are more likely to undergo wide local excision (WLE) than MMS; however, WLE is less effective, with a recurrence rate of 30% compared with 3% in those treated with MMS.⁵⁰ A retrospective cohort study of more than 2000 patients revealed that Hispanic and Black patients were less likely to undergo MMS. In addition, the authors noted that WLE recipients more commonly were deceased at the end of the study.⁵¹

Despite undergoing treatment for a primary DFSP, Hispanic patients also appear to be at increased risk for a second surgery.⁵² Additional studies are needed to elucidate the reasons behind higher recurrence rates in Latine/Hispanic patients compared to NHW individuals.

Factors Influencing Skin Cancer Outcomes

In recent years, racial and ethnic disparities in health care use, medical treatment, and quality of care among minoritized populations (including Latine/Hispanic groups) have been documented in the medical literature.^53,54 These systemic inequities, which are rooted in structural racism,⁵⁵ have contributed to poorer health outcomes, worse health status, and lower-quality care for minoritized patients living in the United States, including those impacted by dermatologic conditions.^8,43,55-57 Becoming familiar with the sociocultural factors influencing skin cancer outcomes in the Latine/Hispanic community (including the lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, language, and other cultural elements) and the paucity of research in this domain could help eliminate existing health inequities in this population.

Health Insurance Coverage—Although the uninsured rates in the Latine population have decreased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (from 30% in 2013 to a low of 19% in 2017),⁵⁸ inadequate health insurance coverage remains one of the largest barriers to health care access and a contributor to health disparities among the Latine community. Nearly 1 in 5 Latine individuals in the United States are uninsured compared to 8% of NHW individuals.⁵⁸ Even though Latine individuals are more likely than non-Latine individuals to be part of the workforce, Latine employees are less likely to receive employer-sponsored coverage (27% vs 53% for NHW individuals).⁵⁹

Not surprisingly, noncitizens are far less likely to be insured; this includes lawfully present immigrants (ie, permanent residents or green card holders, refugees, asylees, and others who are authorized to live in the United States temporarily or permanently) and undocumented immigrants (including individuals who entered the country without authorization and individuals who entered the country lawfully and stayed after their visa or status expired). The higher uninsured rate among noncitizens reflects not only limited access to employer-sponsored coverage but includes immigrant eligibility restrictions for federal programs such as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage.⁶⁰

With approximately 9 million Americans living in mixed-status families (and nearly 10% of babies born each year with at least one undocumented parent), restrictive federal or state health care policies may extend beyond their stated target and impact both Latine citizens and noncitizens.^61-65 For instance, Vargas et al⁶⁴ found that both Latine citizens and noncitizens who lived in states with a high number of immigration-related laws had decreased odds of reporting optimal health as compared to Latine respondents in states with fewer immigration-related laws.Other barriers to enrollment include fears and confusion about program qualification, even if eligible.⁵⁸

Medical Mistrust and Unfamiliarity—Mistrust of medical professionals has been shown to reduce patient adherence to treatment as prescribed by their medical provider and can negatively influence health outcomes.⁵³ For racial/ethnic minoritized groups (including Latine/Hispanic patients), medical mistrust may be rooted in patients’ experience of discrimination in the health care setting. In a recent cross-sectional study, results from a survey of California adults (including 704 non-Hispanic Black, 711 Hispanic, and 913 NHW adults) found links between levels of medical mistrust and perceived discrimination based on race/ethnicity and language as well as perceived discrimination due to income level and type or lack of insurance.⁵³ Interestingly, discrimination attributed to income level and insurance status remained after controlling for race/ethnicity and language. As expected, patients reliant on public insurance programs such as Medicare have been reported to have greater medical mistrust and suspicion compared with private insurance holders.⁶⁵ Together, these findings support the notion that individuals who have low socioeconomic status and lack insurance coverage—disproportionately historically marginalized populations—are more likely to perceive discrimination in health care settings, have greater medical mistrust, and experience poorer health outcomes.⁵³

It also is important for health care providers to consider that the US health care system is unfamiliar to many Latine/Hispanic individuals. Costs of medical services tend to be substantially higher in the United States, which can contribute to mistrust in the system.⁶⁶ In addition, unethical medical experimentations have negatively affected both Latine and especially non-Hispanic Black populations, with long-lasting perceptions of deception and exploitation.⁶⁷ These beliefs have undermined the trust that these populations have in clinicians and the health care system.^54,67

Language and Other Cultural Elements—The inability to effectively communicate with health care providers could contribute to disparities in access to and use of health care services among Latine/Hispanic individuals. In a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey analysis, half of Hispanic patients with limited comfort speaking English did not have a usual source of care, and almost 90% of those with a usual source of care had a provider who spoke Spanish or used interpreters—indicating that few Hispanic individuals with limited comfort speaking English selected a usual source of care without language assistance.^68,69 In other examples, language barriers ­contributed to disparities in cancer screening, and individuals with limited English proficiency were more likely to have difficulty understanding their physician due to language barriers.^68,70

Improving cultural misconceptions regarding skin conditions, especially skin cancer, is another important consideration in the Latine/Hispanic community. Many Latine/Hispanic individuals wrongly believe they cannot develop skin cancer due to their darker skin tones and lack of family history.²⁶ Moreover, multiple studies assessing melanoma knowledge and perception among participants with skin of color (including one with an equal number of Latine/Hispanic, Black/African American, and Asian individuals for a total of 120 participants) revealed that many were unaware of the risk for melanoma on acral sites.⁷¹ Participants expressed a need for more culturally relevant content from both clinicians and public materials (eg, images of acral melanoma in a person with skin of color).^71-73

Paucity of Research—There is limited research regarding skin cancer risks and methods of prevention for patients with skin of color, including the Latine/Hispanic population. Efforts to engage and include patients from these communities, as well as clinicians or investigators from similar backgrounds, in clinical studies are desperately needed. It also is important that clinical studies collect data beyond population descriptors to account for both clinical and genetic variations observed in the Latine/Hispanic population. 

Latine/Hispanic individuals are quite diverse with many variable factors that may influence skin cancer outcomes. Often, cancer surveillance data are available in aggregate only, which could mask this heterogeneity.⁷⁴ Rigorous studies that collect more granular data, including objective measures of skin pigmentation beyond self-reported Fitzpatrick skin type, culture/beliefs, lifestyle/behavior, geographic location, socioeconomic status, genetics, or epigenetics could help fully elucidate skin cancer risks and mitigate health disparities among individuals who identify as part of this population.

Final Thoughts

The Latine/Hispanic community—the largest ethnic minoritized group in the United States—is disproportionately affected by dermatologic health disparities. We hope this review helps to increase recognition of the clinical manifestations of skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic patients. Other factors that may impact skin cancer outcomes in this population include (but are not limited to) lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, linguistic barriers and/or individual/cultural perspectives, along with limited research. Recognizing and addressing these (albeit complex) barriers that contribute to the inequitable access to health care in this population remains a critical step toward improving skin cancer outcomes.

The Latine/Hispanic population in the United States comprises one of the largest and youngest skin of color communities.^1,2 In 2020, this group accounted for 19% of all Americans—a percentage expected to increase to more than 25% by 2060.³

It must be emphasized that the Latine/Hispanic community in the United States is incredibly diverse.⁴ Approximately one-third of individuals in this group are foreign-born, and this community is made up of people from all racialized groups, religions, languages, and cultural identities.² The heterogeneity of the Latine/Hispanic population translates into a wide representation of skin tones, reflecting a rich range of ancestries, ethnicities, and cultures. The percentage of individuals from each origin group may differ according to where they live in the United States; for instance, individuals who identify as Mexican comprise more than 80% of the Latine/Hispanic population in both Texas and California but only 17% in Florida, where more than half of Latine/Hispanic people identify as Cuban or Puerto Rican.^4,5 As a result, when it comes to skin cancer epidemiology, variations in incidence and mortality may exist within each of these subgroups who identify as part of the Latine/Hispanic community, as reported for other cancers.^6,7 Further research is needed to investigate these potential differences.Unfortunately, considerable health disparities persist among this rapidly growing population, including increased morbidity and mortality from melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) despite overall low lifetime incidence.^8,9 In this review, the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and ethnic disparities for skin cancer among the US Latine/Hispanic population are summarized; other factors impacting overall health and health care, including sociocultural factors, also are briefly discussed.

Terminology

Before a meaningful dialogue can be had about skin cancer in the Latine/Hispanic population, it is important to contextualize the terms used to identify this patient population, including Latino/Latine and Hispanic. In the early 1970s, the United States adopted the term Hispanic as a way of conglomerating Spanish-speaking individuals from Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The goal was to implement a common identifier that enabled the US government to study the economic and social development of these groups.¹⁰ Nevertheless, considerable differences (eg, variations in skin pigmentation, sun sensitivity) exist among Hispanic communities, with some having stronger European, African, or Amerindian influences due to colonization of their ­distinct countries.¹¹

In contrast, Latino is a geographic term and refers to people with roots in Latin America and the Caribbean (Table 1).^12,13 For example, a person from Brazil may be considered Latino but not Hispanic as Brazilians speak Portuguese; alternatively, Spaniards (who are considered Hispanic) are not Latino because Spain is not a Latin American country. A person from Mexico would be considered both Latino and Hispanic.¹³

Melanoma

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is more likely to metastasize compared to other forms of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). For Latine/Hispanic individuals living in the United States, the lifetime risk for melanoma is 1 in 200 compared to 1 in 33 for NHW individuals.¹⁴ While the lifetime risk for melanoma is low for the Latine/Hispanic population, Hispanic individuals are diagnosed with melanoma at an earlier age (mean, 56 years), and the rate of new cases is marginally higher for women (4.9 per 100,000) compared to men (4.8 per 100,000).^15,16

Typical sites of melanoma manifestation in Latine/Hispanic individuals include the torso (most common site in Hispanic men), lower extremities (most common site in Hispanic women), and acral sites (palms, soles, and nails).^9,16,17 Anatomic location also can vary according to age for both men and women. For men, the incidence of melanoma on the trunk appears to decrease with age, while the incidence on the head and neck may increase. For women, the incidence of melanoma on the lower extremities and hip increases with age. Cutaneous melanoma may manifest as a lesion with asymmetry, irregular borders, variation in pigmentation, large diameter (>6 mm), and evolution over time. In patients with skin of color, melanoma easily can be missed, as it also typically mimics more benign skin conditions and may develop from an existing black- or dark brown–­pigmented macule.¹⁸ The most common histologic subtype reported among Latine/Hispanic individuals in the United States is superficial spreading melanoma (20%–23%) followed by nodular melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma.^16,19 Until additional risk factors associated with melanoma susceptibility in Hispanic/Latine people are better elucidated, it may be appropriate to use an alternative acronym, such as CUBED (Table 2), in addition to the standard ABCDE system to help recognize potential melanoma on acral sites.¹⁸

Keratinocyte Carcinomas

Keratinocyte carcinomas, also known as nonmelanoma skin cancers, include BCC and SCC. In comparison to the high-quality data available for melanoma from cancer registries, there are less reliable incidence data for KCs, especially among individuals with skin of color.²⁵ As a result, KC epidemiology in the United States is drawn largely from case series (especially for individuals with skin of color) or claims data from small data sets often from geographically restricted regions within the United States.^25,26

Basal Cell Carcinoma—Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic individuals. Among those with lighter skin tones, the lifetime risk for BCC is about 30%.^27,28 Men typically are affected at a higher rate than women, and the median age for diagnosis is 68 years.²⁹ The development of BCC primarily is linked to lifetime accumulated UV radiation exposure. Even though BCC has a low mortality rate, it can lead to substantial morbidity due to factors such as tumor location, size, and rate of invasion, resulting in cosmetic and functional issues. Given its low metastatic potential, treatment of BCC typically is aimed at local control.³⁰ Options for treatment include Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), curettage and electrodessication, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, and topical therapies. Systemic therapies are reserved for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease.³⁰

Latine/Hispanic patients characteristically present with BCCs on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. In most patients, BCC manifests as a translucent pearly nodule with superficial telangiectasias and/or a nonhealing ulcer with a central depression and rolled nontender borders. However, in patients with skin of color, 66% of BCCs manifest with pigmentation; in fact, pigmented BCC (a subtype of BCC) has been shown to have a higher prevalence among Hispanic individuals, with an incidence twice as frequent as in NHW individuals.³¹ In addition, there are reports of increased tendency among Latine/Hispanic individuals to develop multiple BCCs.^32,33

The relationship between UV exposure and KCs could explain the relatively higher incidence in populations with skin of color living in warmer climates, including Hispanic individuals.³⁴ Even so, the development of BCCs appears to correlate directly with the degree of pigmentation in the skin, as it is most common in individuals with lighter skin tones within the Hispanic population.^25,34,35 Other risk factors associated with BCC development include albinism, arsenic ingestion, chronic infections, immunosuppression, history of radiation treatment, and history of scars or ulcers due to physical/thermal trauma.^35-37

Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer among Latine/Hispanic patients. In contrast with NHW patients, evidence supporting the role of UV exposure as a primary risk factor for SCC in patients with skin of color remains limited.^25,38 Reports linking UV exposure and KCs in Hispanic and Black individuals predominantly include case series or population-based studies that do not consider levels of UV exposure.²⁵

More recently, genetic ancestry analyses of a large multiethnic cohort found an increased risk for cutaneous SCC among Latine/Hispanic individuals with European ancestry compared to those with Native American or African ancestry; however, these genetic ancestry associations were attenuated (although not eliminated) after considering skin pigmentation (using loci associated with skin pigmentation), history of sun exposure (using actinic keratoses as a covariate for chronic sun exposure), and sun-protected vs sun-exposed anatomic sites, supporting the role of other environmental or sociocultural factors in the development of SCC.³⁹ Similar to BCCs, immunosuppression, chronic scarring, skin irritation, and inflammatory disease also are documented risk factors.^9,32

Among NHW individuals with lighter skin tones, SCC characteristically manifests on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. Typically, a lesion may appear as a scaly erythematous papule or plaque that may be verrucous in nature or a nonhealing bleeding ulcer. In patients with more deeply pigmented skin, SCC tends to develop in the perianal region and on the penis and lower legs; pigmented lesions also may be present (as commonly reported in BCCs).^9,32,36

Unfortunately, the lower incidence of KCs and lack of surveillance in populations with skin of color result in a low index of clinical suspicion, leading to delayed diagnoses and increased morbidity.⁴⁰ Keratinocyte carcinomas are more costly to treat and require more health care resources for Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared to their NHW counterparts; for example, KCs are associated with more ambulatory visits, more prescription medications, and greater cost on a per-person, per-year basis in Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared with NHW patients.⁴¹ Moreover, a recent multicenter retrospective study found Hispanic patients had 17% larger MMS defects following treatment for KCs compared to NHW patients after adjustment for age, sex, and insurance type.⁴²

Hispanic patients tend to present initially with SCCs in areas associated with advanced disease, such as the anogenital region, penis, and the lower extremities. Latine and Black men have the highest incidence of penile SCC, which is rare with high morbidity and mortality.^32,43,44 The higher incidence of penile SCC among Hispanic individuals living in southern states could correspond to circumcision or HPV infection rates,⁴⁴ ultimately impacting incidence.⁴⁵

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare locally aggressive cutaneous sarcoma. According to population studies, overall incidence of DFSP is around 4.1 to 4.2 per million in the United States. Population-based studies on DFSP are limited, but available data suggest that Black patients as well as women have the highest incidence.⁴⁶

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is characterized by its capacity to invade surrounding tissues in a tentaclelike pattern.⁴⁷ This characteristic often leads to inadequate initial resection of the lesion as well as a high recurrence rate despite its low metastatic potential.⁴⁸ In early stages, DFSP typically manifests as an asymptomatic plaque with a slow growth rate. The color of the lesion ranges from reddish brown to flesh colored. The pigmented form of DFSP, known as Bednar tumor, is the most common among Black patients.⁴⁷ As the tumor grows, it tends to become firm and nodular. The most common location for DFSP is on the trunk or the upper and lower extremities.⁴⁷

Although current guidelines designate MMS as the first-line treatment for DFSP, the procedure may be inaccessible for certain populations.⁴⁹ Patients with skin of color are more likely to undergo wide local excision (WLE) than MMS; however, WLE is less effective, with a recurrence rate of 30% compared with 3% in those treated with MMS.⁵⁰ A retrospective cohort study of more than 2000 patients revealed that Hispanic and Black patients were less likely to undergo MMS. In addition, the authors noted that WLE recipients more commonly were deceased at the end of the study.⁵¹

Despite undergoing treatment for a primary DFSP, Hispanic patients also appear to be at increased risk for a second surgery.⁵² Additional studies are needed to elucidate the reasons behind higher recurrence rates in Latine/Hispanic patients compared to NHW individuals.

Factors Influencing Skin Cancer Outcomes

In recent years, racial and ethnic disparities in health care use, medical treatment, and quality of care among minoritized populations (including Latine/Hispanic groups) have been documented in the medical literature.^53,54 These systemic inequities, which are rooted in structural racism,⁵⁵ have contributed to poorer health outcomes, worse health status, and lower-quality care for minoritized patients living in the United States, including those impacted by dermatologic conditions.^8,43,55-57 Becoming familiar with the sociocultural factors influencing skin cancer outcomes in the Latine/Hispanic community (including the lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, language, and other cultural elements) and the paucity of research in this domain could help eliminate existing health inequities in this population.

Health Insurance Coverage—Although the uninsured rates in the Latine population have decreased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (from 30% in 2013 to a low of 19% in 2017),⁵⁸ inadequate health insurance coverage remains one of the largest barriers to health care access and a contributor to health disparities among the Latine community. Nearly 1 in 5 Latine individuals in the United States are uninsured compared to 8% of NHW individuals.⁵⁸ Even though Latine individuals are more likely than non-Latine individuals to be part of the workforce, Latine employees are less likely to receive employer-sponsored coverage (27% vs 53% for NHW individuals).⁵⁹

Not surprisingly, noncitizens are far less likely to be insured; this includes lawfully present immigrants (ie, permanent residents or green card holders, refugees, asylees, and others who are authorized to live in the United States temporarily or permanently) and undocumented immigrants (including individuals who entered the country without authorization and individuals who entered the country lawfully and stayed after their visa or status expired). The higher uninsured rate among noncitizens reflects not only limited access to employer-sponsored coverage but includes immigrant eligibility restrictions for federal programs such as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage.⁶⁰

With approximately 9 million Americans living in mixed-status families (and nearly 10% of babies born each year with at least one undocumented parent), restrictive federal or state health care policies may extend beyond their stated target and impact both Latine citizens and noncitizens.^61-65 For instance, Vargas et al⁶⁴ found that both Latine citizens and noncitizens who lived in states with a high number of immigration-related laws had decreased odds of reporting optimal health as compared to Latine respondents in states with fewer immigration-related laws.Other barriers to enrollment include fears and confusion about program qualification, even if eligible.⁵⁸

Medical Mistrust and Unfamiliarity—Mistrust of medical professionals has been shown to reduce patient adherence to treatment as prescribed by their medical provider and can negatively influence health outcomes.⁵³ For racial/ethnic minoritized groups (including Latine/Hispanic patients), medical mistrust may be rooted in patients’ experience of discrimination in the health care setting. In a recent cross-sectional study, results from a survey of California adults (including 704 non-Hispanic Black, 711 Hispanic, and 913 NHW adults) found links between levels of medical mistrust and perceived discrimination based on race/ethnicity and language as well as perceived discrimination due to income level and type or lack of insurance.⁵³ Interestingly, discrimination attributed to income level and insurance status remained after controlling for race/ethnicity and language. As expected, patients reliant on public insurance programs such as Medicare have been reported to have greater medical mistrust and suspicion compared with private insurance holders.⁶⁵ Together, these findings support the notion that individuals who have low socioeconomic status and lack insurance coverage—disproportionately historically marginalized populations—are more likely to perceive discrimination in health care settings, have greater medical mistrust, and experience poorer health outcomes.⁵³

It also is important for health care providers to consider that the US health care system is unfamiliar to many Latine/Hispanic individuals. Costs of medical services tend to be substantially higher in the United States, which can contribute to mistrust in the system.⁶⁶ In addition, unethical medical experimentations have negatively affected both Latine and especially non-Hispanic Black populations, with long-lasting perceptions of deception and exploitation.⁶⁷ These beliefs have undermined the trust that these populations have in clinicians and the health care system.^54,67

Language and Other Cultural Elements—The inability to effectively communicate with health care providers could contribute to disparities in access to and use of health care services among Latine/Hispanic individuals. In a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey analysis, half of Hispanic patients with limited comfort speaking English did not have a usual source of care, and almost 90% of those with a usual source of care had a provider who spoke Spanish or used interpreters—indicating that few Hispanic individuals with limited comfort speaking English selected a usual source of care without language assistance.^68,69 In other examples, language barriers ­contributed to disparities in cancer screening, and individuals with limited English proficiency were more likely to have difficulty understanding their physician due to language barriers.^68,70

Improving cultural misconceptions regarding skin conditions, especially skin cancer, is another important consideration in the Latine/Hispanic community. Many Latine/Hispanic individuals wrongly believe they cannot develop skin cancer due to their darker skin tones and lack of family history.²⁶ Moreover, multiple studies assessing melanoma knowledge and perception among participants with skin of color (including one with an equal number of Latine/Hispanic, Black/African American, and Asian individuals for a total of 120 participants) revealed that many were unaware of the risk for melanoma on acral sites.⁷¹ Participants expressed a need for more culturally relevant content from both clinicians and public materials (eg, images of acral melanoma in a person with skin of color).^71-73

Paucity of Research—There is limited research regarding skin cancer risks and methods of prevention for patients with skin of color, including the Latine/Hispanic population. Efforts to engage and include patients from these communities, as well as clinicians or investigators from similar backgrounds, in clinical studies are desperately needed. It also is important that clinical studies collect data beyond population descriptors to account for both clinical and genetic variations observed in the Latine/Hispanic population. 

Latine/Hispanic individuals are quite diverse with many variable factors that may influence skin cancer outcomes. Often, cancer surveillance data are available in aggregate only, which could mask this heterogeneity.⁷⁴ Rigorous studies that collect more granular data, including objective measures of skin pigmentation beyond self-reported Fitzpatrick skin type, culture/beliefs, lifestyle/behavior, geographic location, socioeconomic status, genetics, or epigenetics could help fully elucidate skin cancer risks and mitigate health disparities among individuals who identify as part of this population.

Final Thoughts

The Latine/Hispanic community—the largest ethnic minoritized group in the United States—is disproportionately affected by dermatologic health disparities. We hope this review helps to increase recognition of the clinical manifestations of skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic patients. Other factors that may impact skin cancer outcomes in this population include (but are not limited to) lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, linguistic barriers and/or individual/cultural perspectives, along with limited research. Recognizing and addressing these (albeit complex) barriers that contribute to the inequitable access to health care in this population remains a critical step toward improving skin cancer outcomes.

The Latine/Hispanic population in the United States comprises one of the largest and youngest skin of color communities.^1,2 In 2020, this group accounted for 19% of all Americans—a percentage expected to increase to more than 25% by 2060.³

It must be emphasized that the Latine/Hispanic community in the United States is incredibly diverse.⁴ Approximately one-third of individuals in this group are foreign-born, and this community is made up of people from all racialized groups, religions, languages, and cultural identities.² The heterogeneity of the Latine/Hispanic population translates into a wide representation of skin tones, reflecting a rich range of ancestries, ethnicities, and cultures. The percentage of individuals from each origin group may differ according to where they live in the United States; for instance, individuals who identify as Mexican comprise more than 80% of the Latine/Hispanic population in both Texas and California but only 17% in Florida, where more than half of Latine/Hispanic people identify as Cuban or Puerto Rican.^4,5 As a result, when it comes to skin cancer epidemiology, variations in incidence and mortality may exist within each of these subgroups who identify as part of the Latine/Hispanic community, as reported for other cancers.^6,7 Further research is needed to investigate these potential differences.Unfortunately, considerable health disparities persist among this rapidly growing population, including increased morbidity and mortality from melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) despite overall low lifetime incidence.^8,9 In this review, the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and ethnic disparities for skin cancer among the US Latine/Hispanic population are summarized; other factors impacting overall health and health care, including sociocultural factors, also are briefly discussed.

Terminology

Before a meaningful dialogue can be had about skin cancer in the Latine/Hispanic population, it is important to contextualize the terms used to identify this patient population, including Latino/Latine and Hispanic. In the early 1970s, the United States adopted the term Hispanic as a way of conglomerating Spanish-speaking individuals from Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The goal was to implement a common identifier that enabled the US government to study the economic and social development of these groups.¹⁰ Nevertheless, considerable differences (eg, variations in skin pigmentation, sun sensitivity) exist among Hispanic communities, with some having stronger European, African, or Amerindian influences due to colonization of their ­distinct countries.¹¹

In contrast, Latino is a geographic term and refers to people with roots in Latin America and the Caribbean (Table 1).^12,13 For example, a person from Brazil may be considered Latino but not Hispanic as Brazilians speak Portuguese; alternatively, Spaniards (who are considered Hispanic) are not Latino because Spain is not a Latin American country. A person from Mexico would be considered both Latino and Hispanic.¹³

Melanoma

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is more likely to metastasize compared to other forms of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). For Latine/Hispanic individuals living in the United States, the lifetime risk for melanoma is 1 in 200 compared to 1 in 33 for NHW individuals.¹⁴ While the lifetime risk for melanoma is low for the Latine/Hispanic population, Hispanic individuals are diagnosed with melanoma at an earlier age (mean, 56 years), and the rate of new cases is marginally higher for women (4.9 per 100,000) compared to men (4.8 per 100,000).^15,16

Typical sites of melanoma manifestation in Latine/Hispanic individuals include the torso (most common site in Hispanic men), lower extremities (most common site in Hispanic women), and acral sites (palms, soles, and nails).^9,16,17 Anatomic location also can vary according to age for both men and women. For men, the incidence of melanoma on the trunk appears to decrease with age, while the incidence on the head and neck may increase. For women, the incidence of melanoma on the lower extremities and hip increases with age. Cutaneous melanoma may manifest as a lesion with asymmetry, irregular borders, variation in pigmentation, large diameter (>6 mm), and evolution over time. In patients with skin of color, melanoma easily can be missed, as it also typically mimics more benign skin conditions and may develop from an existing black- or dark brown–­pigmented macule.¹⁸ The most common histologic subtype reported among Latine/Hispanic individuals in the United States is superficial spreading melanoma (20%–23%) followed by nodular melanoma and acral lentiginous melanoma.^16,19 Until additional risk factors associated with melanoma susceptibility in Hispanic/Latine people are better elucidated, it may be appropriate to use an alternative acronym, such as CUBED (Table 2), in addition to the standard ABCDE system to help recognize potential melanoma on acral sites.¹⁸

Keratinocyte Carcinomas

Keratinocyte carcinomas, also known as nonmelanoma skin cancers, include BCC and SCC. In comparison to the high-quality data available for melanoma from cancer registries, there are less reliable incidence data for KCs, especially among individuals with skin of color.²⁵ As a result, KC epidemiology in the United States is drawn largely from case series (especially for individuals with skin of color) or claims data from small data sets often from geographically restricted regions within the United States.^25,26

Basal Cell Carcinoma—Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic individuals. Among those with lighter skin tones, the lifetime risk for BCC is about 30%.^27,28 Men typically are affected at a higher rate than women, and the median age for diagnosis is 68 years.²⁹ The development of BCC primarily is linked to lifetime accumulated UV radiation exposure. Even though BCC has a low mortality rate, it can lead to substantial morbidity due to factors such as tumor location, size, and rate of invasion, resulting in cosmetic and functional issues. Given its low metastatic potential, treatment of BCC typically is aimed at local control.³⁰ Options for treatment include Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), curettage and electrodessication, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, and topical therapies. Systemic therapies are reserved for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease.³⁰

Latine/Hispanic patients characteristically present with BCCs on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. In most patients, BCC manifests as a translucent pearly nodule with superficial telangiectasias and/or a nonhealing ulcer with a central depression and rolled nontender borders. However, in patients with skin of color, 66% of BCCs manifest with pigmentation; in fact, pigmented BCC (a subtype of BCC) has been shown to have a higher prevalence among Hispanic individuals, with an incidence twice as frequent as in NHW individuals.³¹ In addition, there are reports of increased tendency among Latine/Hispanic individuals to develop multiple BCCs.^32,33

The relationship between UV exposure and KCs could explain the relatively higher incidence in populations with skin of color living in warmer climates, including Hispanic individuals.³⁴ Even so, the development of BCCs appears to correlate directly with the degree of pigmentation in the skin, as it is most common in individuals with lighter skin tones within the Hispanic population.^25,34,35 Other risk factors associated with BCC development include albinism, arsenic ingestion, chronic infections, immunosuppression, history of radiation treatment, and history of scars or ulcers due to physical/thermal trauma.^35-37

Squamous Cell Carcinoma—Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer among Latine/Hispanic patients. In contrast with NHW patients, evidence supporting the role of UV exposure as a primary risk factor for SCC in patients with skin of color remains limited.^25,38 Reports linking UV exposure and KCs in Hispanic and Black individuals predominantly include case series or population-based studies that do not consider levels of UV exposure.²⁵

More recently, genetic ancestry analyses of a large multiethnic cohort found an increased risk for cutaneous SCC among Latine/Hispanic individuals with European ancestry compared to those with Native American or African ancestry; however, these genetic ancestry associations were attenuated (although not eliminated) after considering skin pigmentation (using loci associated with skin pigmentation), history of sun exposure (using actinic keratoses as a covariate for chronic sun exposure), and sun-protected vs sun-exposed anatomic sites, supporting the role of other environmental or sociocultural factors in the development of SCC.³⁹ Similar to BCCs, immunosuppression, chronic scarring, skin irritation, and inflammatory disease also are documented risk factors.^9,32

Among NHW individuals with lighter skin tones, SCC characteristically manifests on sun-exposed areas of the skin such as the head and neck region. Typically, a lesion may appear as a scaly erythematous papule or plaque that may be verrucous in nature or a nonhealing bleeding ulcer. In patients with more deeply pigmented skin, SCC tends to develop in the perianal region and on the penis and lower legs; pigmented lesions also may be present (as commonly reported in BCCs).^9,32,36

Unfortunately, the lower incidence of KCs and lack of surveillance in populations with skin of color result in a low index of clinical suspicion, leading to delayed diagnoses and increased morbidity.⁴⁰ Keratinocyte carcinomas are more costly to treat and require more health care resources for Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared to their NHW counterparts; for example, KCs are associated with more ambulatory visits, more prescription medications, and greater cost on a per-person, per-year basis in Latine/Hispanic and Black patients compared with NHW patients.⁴¹ Moreover, a recent multicenter retrospective study found Hispanic patients had 17% larger MMS defects following treatment for KCs compared to NHW patients after adjustment for age, sex, and insurance type.⁴²

Hispanic patients tend to present initially with SCCs in areas associated with advanced disease, such as the anogenital region, penis, and the lower extremities. Latine and Black men have the highest incidence of penile SCC, which is rare with high morbidity and mortality.^32,43,44 The higher incidence of penile SCC among Hispanic individuals living in southern states could correspond to circumcision or HPV infection rates,⁴⁴ ultimately impacting incidence.⁴⁵

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare locally aggressive cutaneous sarcoma. According to population studies, overall incidence of DFSP is around 4.1 to 4.2 per million in the United States. Population-based studies on DFSP are limited, but available data suggest that Black patients as well as women have the highest incidence.⁴⁶

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is characterized by its capacity to invade surrounding tissues in a tentaclelike pattern.⁴⁷ This characteristic often leads to inadequate initial resection of the lesion as well as a high recurrence rate despite its low metastatic potential.⁴⁸ In early stages, DFSP typically manifests as an asymptomatic plaque with a slow growth rate. The color of the lesion ranges from reddish brown to flesh colored. The pigmented form of DFSP, known as Bednar tumor, is the most common among Black patients.⁴⁷ As the tumor grows, it tends to become firm and nodular. The most common location for DFSP is on the trunk or the upper and lower extremities.⁴⁷

Although current guidelines designate MMS as the first-line treatment for DFSP, the procedure may be inaccessible for certain populations.⁴⁹ Patients with skin of color are more likely to undergo wide local excision (WLE) than MMS; however, WLE is less effective, with a recurrence rate of 30% compared with 3% in those treated with MMS.⁵⁰ A retrospective cohort study of more than 2000 patients revealed that Hispanic and Black patients were less likely to undergo MMS. In addition, the authors noted that WLE recipients more commonly were deceased at the end of the study.⁵¹

Despite undergoing treatment for a primary DFSP, Hispanic patients also appear to be at increased risk for a second surgery.⁵² Additional studies are needed to elucidate the reasons behind higher recurrence rates in Latine/Hispanic patients compared to NHW individuals.

Factors Influencing Skin Cancer Outcomes

In recent years, racial and ethnic disparities in health care use, medical treatment, and quality of care among minoritized populations (including Latine/Hispanic groups) have been documented in the medical literature.^53,54 These systemic inequities, which are rooted in structural racism,⁵⁵ have contributed to poorer health outcomes, worse health status, and lower-quality care for minoritized patients living in the United States, including those impacted by dermatologic conditions.^8,43,55-57 Becoming familiar with the sociocultural factors influencing skin cancer outcomes in the Latine/Hispanic community (including the lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, language, and other cultural elements) and the paucity of research in this domain could help eliminate existing health inequities in this population.

Health Insurance Coverage—Although the uninsured rates in the Latine population have decreased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (from 30% in 2013 to a low of 19% in 2017),⁵⁸ inadequate health insurance coverage remains one of the largest barriers to health care access and a contributor to health disparities among the Latine community. Nearly 1 in 5 Latine individuals in the United States are uninsured compared to 8% of NHW individuals.⁵⁸ Even though Latine individuals are more likely than non-Latine individuals to be part of the workforce, Latine employees are less likely to receive employer-sponsored coverage (27% vs 53% for NHW individuals).⁵⁹

Not surprisingly, noncitizens are far less likely to be insured; this includes lawfully present immigrants (ie, permanent residents or green card holders, refugees, asylees, and others who are authorized to live in the United States temporarily or permanently) and undocumented immigrants (including individuals who entered the country without authorization and individuals who entered the country lawfully and stayed after their visa or status expired). The higher uninsured rate among noncitizens reflects not only limited access to employer-sponsored coverage but includes immigrant eligibility restrictions for federal programs such as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage.⁶⁰

With approximately 9 million Americans living in mixed-status families (and nearly 10% of babies born each year with at least one undocumented parent), restrictive federal or state health care policies may extend beyond their stated target and impact both Latine citizens and noncitizens.^61-65 For instance, Vargas et al⁶⁴ found that both Latine citizens and noncitizens who lived in states with a high number of immigration-related laws had decreased odds of reporting optimal health as compared to Latine respondents in states with fewer immigration-related laws.Other barriers to enrollment include fears and confusion about program qualification, even if eligible.⁵⁸

Medical Mistrust and Unfamiliarity—Mistrust of medical professionals has been shown to reduce patient adherence to treatment as prescribed by their medical provider and can negatively influence health outcomes.⁵³ For racial/ethnic minoritized groups (including Latine/Hispanic patients), medical mistrust may be rooted in patients’ experience of discrimination in the health care setting. In a recent cross-sectional study, results from a survey of California adults (including 704 non-Hispanic Black, 711 Hispanic, and 913 NHW adults) found links between levels of medical mistrust and perceived discrimination based on race/ethnicity and language as well as perceived discrimination due to income level and type or lack of insurance.⁵³ Interestingly, discrimination attributed to income level and insurance status remained after controlling for race/ethnicity and language. As expected, patients reliant on public insurance programs such as Medicare have been reported to have greater medical mistrust and suspicion compared with private insurance holders.⁶⁵ Together, these findings support the notion that individuals who have low socioeconomic status and lack insurance coverage—disproportionately historically marginalized populations—are more likely to perceive discrimination in health care settings, have greater medical mistrust, and experience poorer health outcomes.⁵³

It also is important for health care providers to consider that the US health care system is unfamiliar to many Latine/Hispanic individuals. Costs of medical services tend to be substantially higher in the United States, which can contribute to mistrust in the system.⁶⁶ In addition, unethical medical experimentations have negatively affected both Latine and especially non-Hispanic Black populations, with long-lasting perceptions of deception and exploitation.⁶⁷ These beliefs have undermined the trust that these populations have in clinicians and the health care system.^54,67

Language and Other Cultural Elements—The inability to effectively communicate with health care providers could contribute to disparities in access to and use of health care services among Latine/Hispanic individuals. In a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey analysis, half of Hispanic patients with limited comfort speaking English did not have a usual source of care, and almost 90% of those with a usual source of care had a provider who spoke Spanish or used interpreters—indicating that few Hispanic individuals with limited comfort speaking English selected a usual source of care without language assistance.^68,69 In other examples, language barriers ­contributed to disparities in cancer screening, and individuals with limited English proficiency were more likely to have difficulty understanding their physician due to language barriers.^68,70

Improving cultural misconceptions regarding skin conditions, especially skin cancer, is another important consideration in the Latine/Hispanic community. Many Latine/Hispanic individuals wrongly believe they cannot develop skin cancer due to their darker skin tones and lack of family history.²⁶ Moreover, multiple studies assessing melanoma knowledge and perception among participants with skin of color (including one with an equal number of Latine/Hispanic, Black/African American, and Asian individuals for a total of 120 participants) revealed that many were unaware of the risk for melanoma on acral sites.⁷¹ Participants expressed a need for more culturally relevant content from both clinicians and public materials (eg, images of acral melanoma in a person with skin of color).^71-73

Paucity of Research—There is limited research regarding skin cancer risks and methods of prevention for patients with skin of color, including the Latine/Hispanic population. Efforts to engage and include patients from these communities, as well as clinicians or investigators from similar backgrounds, in clinical studies are desperately needed. It also is important that clinical studies collect data beyond population descriptors to account for both clinical and genetic variations observed in the Latine/Hispanic population. 

Latine/Hispanic individuals are quite diverse with many variable factors that may influence skin cancer outcomes. Often, cancer surveillance data are available in aggregate only, which could mask this heterogeneity.⁷⁴ Rigorous studies that collect more granular data, including objective measures of skin pigmentation beyond self-reported Fitzpatrick skin type, culture/beliefs, lifestyle/behavior, geographic location, socioeconomic status, genetics, or epigenetics could help fully elucidate skin cancer risks and mitigate health disparities among individuals who identify as part of this population.

Final Thoughts

The Latine/Hispanic community—the largest ethnic minoritized group in the United States—is disproportionately affected by dermatologic health disparities. We hope this review helps to increase recognition of the clinical manifestations of skin cancer in Latine/Hispanic patients. Other factors that may impact skin cancer outcomes in this population include (but are not limited to) lack of or inadequate health insurance, medical mistrust, linguistic barriers and/or individual/cultural perspectives, along with limited research. Recognizing and addressing these (albeit complex) barriers that contribute to the inequitable access to health care in this population remains a critical step toward improving skin cancer outcomes.