NEWS
Drinking Problems
Americans ’ alcohol consumption accounts for a considerable proportion of cancer incidence and mortality , according to a state-by-state analysis of cancer burden published in Cancer Epidemiology .
Looking at age- , sex- , and state-specific data from the U . S . Cancer Statistics database between 2013 and 2016 , as well as self-reported alcohol consumption data from various surveys , the researchers estimated that , nationally , alcohol consumption accounted for
75,199
Annual Cancer Cases
TKIs on the Prize
A recent analysis published in Cancer calculated the costs of delaying the start of tyrosine kinase inhibitors ( TKIs ) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ). Using data from the Surveillance , Epidemiology , and End Results ( SEER )– Medicare database , the authors reviewed differences in TKI initiation , health care use , cost , and survival between 2007 and 2015 .
Of 941 individuals included , 21 % never received TKIs , and these patients had poorer overall median survival :
86 months for TKI users vs .
( 4.8 %)
18,947
Annual Cancer Deaths
( 3.2 %)
40 months for TKI non-users .
The proportion of cancer cases attributable to alcohol consumption varied widely among states , from 2.9 % in Utah to 6.7 % in Delaware .
Source : Sauer AG , Fedewa SA , Bandi P , et al . Proportion of cancer cases and deaths attributable to alcohol consumption by US state , 2013-2016 . Cancer Epidemiol . 2021 ; 71 ( part A ): 101893 .
Delays in CML treatment are likely related to costs of TKIs , the researchers concluded , noting that patients with cost-sharing subsidies were 33 % more likely than the entire population to receive TKIs .
Source : Seymour EK , Ruterbusch JJ , Winn AN , et al . The costs of treating and not treating patients with chronic myeloid leukemia with tyrosine kinase inhibitors among Medicare patients in the United States . Cancer . 2021 ; 127 ( 1 ): 93-102 .
Revenue Blues
Restrictions on in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic has put medical practices in a precarious financial situation , according to a survey from the American Medical Association .
Of 3,500 physicians surveyed in summer 2020 , 81 % said they were still seeing lower revenue than pre-pandemic levels .
32 % �
The average drop in revenue was 32 %, but nearly 1 in 5 respondents said their revenue losses were greater than 50 %.
“ Even with eased telehealth coverage restrictions , telehealth services did not offset reduced in-person patient visits ,” the report authors wrote .
Source : American Medical Association , “ COVID-19 Physician Practice Financial Impact Survey Results .”
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