Data Stream
Genomaniacs
Most patients want to know the findings from sequencing of their DNA – regardless of the
clinical implications – according to results from CanSeq, a study looking at how complex
tumor and germline genomic information from whole-exome sequencing can be integrated
into cancer care.
While clinicians might worry about placing the burden of additional information on patients, the study results indicated that most of the 167 patients interviewed about their
preferences wanted to know if the results would:
99%
Identify a genetic predisposition to cancer
or other non-cancerous conditions
A Global Health Crisis
The 2008 global economic crisis was also a global health crisis, according to
an analysis of unemployment rates, public health-care funding constraints,
and cancer mortality, published in The Lancet.
Researchers compared trends from 1990 to 2010 in 75 countries (totaling
more than 2 billion people), estimating that:
95%
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clinical trial
• The 2008 economic crisis was associated with 263,221 additional
cancer deaths.
• A 1% increase in unemployment was associated with 0.37 additional
cancer deaths per 100,000 people.
• A 1% decrease in public health-care spending was associated with
0.0053 additional deaths from all cancers per 100,000 people.
94%
Indicate
a positive
prognosis
“Increased unemployment was associated with increased cancer mortality,
but universal health coverage protected against these effects,” the authors
wrote. “Public health-care spending was tightly associated with cancer mortality – suggesting [that] health-care cuts could cost lives.”
Source: Maruthappu M, Watkins J, Noor AM, et al. Economic downturns, universal health coverage, and cancer mortality in high-income and middle-income countries, 1990–2010: a longitudinal
analysis. Lancet. 2016 May 25. [Epub ahead of print]
85
%
84%
Suggest predisposition to
untreatable non-cancer
conditions
Indicate a negative prognosis
Cost-Blindness
Physicians are increasingly being asked to help contain health-care costs
and reduce overuse of unnecessary procedures, but a survey of doctors’
knowledge of the Choosing Wisely campaigns and cost-consciousness
reveals that most physicians don’t have a firm understanding of the costs
associated with tests and procedures to the health-care system.
Of the 584 survey respondents, the majority (92.2%) felt that doctors had a
responsibility to control costs, however:
36.9%
The discovery highlights the need to improve patient education about genomics as well as
boost the resources available for the oncologists who interpret and present these findings
to the patients, the authors concluded.
Source: Gray SW, Park ER, Najita J, et al. Oncologists’ and cancer patients’ views on whole-exome sequencing and
incidental findings: results from the CanSeq study. Genet Med. 2016 February 11. [Epub ahead of print]
33.9%
33%
30.7%
27.8%
reported being aware of the costs of tests
and procedures.
said they “try not to think about costs.”
thought it was unfair to ask doctors to be both
cost-conscious and concerned with patient welfare.
thought there is too much emphasis on cost.
said doctors are too busy to worry about costs.
Source: Colla CH, Kinsella EA, Morden NE, et al. Physician perceptions of Choosing Wisely and
drivers of overuse. Am J Manag Care. 2016;22:337-43.
14
ASH Clinical News
August 2016