Inequitable poverty exposures in a clinical trial cohort of children
with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an opportunity to address racial and
ethnic disparities in pediatric oncology
Abstract
Black and Hispanic children with leukemia experience inferior survival
compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) children. Identifying modifiable
social determinants of health can inform intervention targets to address
inequities. We characterized the frequency of income poverty and
household material hardship (HMH) by race/ethnicity in a clinical trial
cohort with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Compared to NHW
families, Black and Hispanic families reported more frequent HMH (19%
vs. 47% vs. 68% respectively); low-income (27% vs. 52% vs. 74%),
and combined low-income and HMH (12% vs. 37% vs. 52%) poverty
exposures. Disparate poverty exposures are interventional targets to
address racial/ethnic outcome inequities.