BACKGROUND

Late-stage diagnosis of oral cavity cancer (OCC) often results from diagnostic delays due to healthcare access limitations or financial barriers. This study investigates how area-level ("place") and individual-level ("pocketbook") income influence the stage at OCC diagnosis.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed data on patients diagnosed with OCC between 2010 and 2013 sourced from Taiwan's National Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance databases. The primary outcome was late-stage diagnosis, defined as those initially diagnosed at stage III or IV. Multivariable analyses were conducted to estimate the association between area-level, individual-level, and late-stage diagnosis.

RESULTS

This study included 16,652 incident OCC patients, with 6639 (39.9%) diagnosed at a late stage and 10,013 (60.1%) at an early stage. Patients with low individual incomes residing in low-income areas had 1.48 times higher odds (95% CI = 1.09 to 2.00, p = 0.011) of late-stage diagnosis compared to high-income patients in high-income areas. High-income patients; however, in low-income areas had 1.34 times higher odds (95% CI = 1.05 to 1.71, p = 0.02) to be diagnosed at a late stage compared to high-income patients in high-income areas.

CONCLUSIONS

While area-level income plays a significant role in late-stage OCC diagnosis, higher individual income does not fully protect against late-stage diagnosis in low-income areas.