World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://wjon.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 000, Number 000, September 2026, pages 000-000


Socioeconomic Changes During Cancer Therapy and Their Associations With Functional Decline and Treatment Delivery: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Figure

↓  Figure 1. Study flowchart of participant recruitment and follow-up. T0: baseline assessment; T1: follow-up assessment.
Figure 1.

Tables

↓  Table 1. Definition of T0 and T1 Changes
 
VariablesDefinition
ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Socioeconomic factors
  Change in occupational statusDefined as a deterioration in occupational status between baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1). Participants were categorized as having occupational loss if they transitioned from employment at T0 to unemployment at T1.
  Change in household monthly incomeDefined as a decrease in the family monthly income range by more than 200 USD between the baseline (T0) and the follow-up (T1). Participants were categorized as having decreased income vs stable or increased income.
  Change in income typeDefined as the transition from reliance on a stable income source at baseline (T0) to an unstable or unfixed income source as assistance, transfers, debts, donations, or loans at follow-up (T1).
  Change in insurance accessDefined as a transition from insured at baseline (T0) to uninsured at follow-up (T1). The outcome variable was categorized as loss of insurance coverage versus no change in coverage (reference category).
  Change in insurance coverageDefined as the transition in a patient’s insurance coverage between baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1), based on reported categories (hospital fees and treatment, hospital fees only, treatment only, no coverage benefits, uninsured). The variable captures whether the same level of coverage was maintained or reduced over time. A reduction is defined as moving from any insured category at T0 to a lower level of coverage at T1.
  Change in payment typeDefined as the change in a patient’s healthcare payment composition between T0 and T1. It captures the transition from the baseline healthcare payment arrangement to a less favorable payment arrangement at follow-up, including increased reliance on out-of-pocket payments, loss of assistance, or other changes indicating reduced financial protection.
  Conflict-related change in household settingParticipants were categorized as “unaffected” versus those reporting any Lebanese 2024 conflict-related major change between the two timepoints (including relocation, renting a new residence, or moving in with family or others).
Outcome variables
  ECOG performance declineDefined as a worsening in the patient’s ECOG performance status score between baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1), indicated by an increase in ECOG grade over time.
  NCCN compliance declineDefined as a transition from NCCN-compliant care at baseline (T0) to noncompliant care at follow-up (T1).
  Deterioration in treatment receiptDefined as a decline in treatment receipt between baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1). Participants were classified as having a deterioration in treatment receipt if they reported fully receiving their prescribed treatment at T0 but reported either an incomplete treatment regimen or a reduced treatment dose at T1.

 

↓  Table 2. Baseline Sample Characteristics of the Study Participants (n = 244)
 
VariablesN%
Gender
Female14459.02
Male10040.98
Age group (years)
  18–2993.69
  30–44249.84
  45–596426.23
  60–7411346.31
  75–903413.93
Educational attainment
  Illiterate124.92
  Primary education3313.52
  Secondary education5221.31
  High school education4618.85
  Higher education10141.39
Hospital type
  Governmental239.43
  Private22190.57
Type of admission
  Inpatient5120.90
  Outpatient19379.09

 

↓  Table 3. Changes in Social and Clinical Indicators From Baseline (T0) to Follow-Up (T1)
 
Clinical parameterT0, n (%)T1, n (%)Change variable, n (%)
aParticipants may report several payment methods; hence percentages do not sum to 100. ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Socio-economic factors
  Mean delta dependent children number, mean (SD)0.59 (1.05)1.54 (0.88)0.95 (2.3)
  Mean elderly number, mean (SD)1.78 (0.8)1.78 (0.8)No change
  Occupational status
    Employed72 (29.5)65 (26.6)
    Retired29 (11.9)20 (8.2)
    Student5 (2.0)5 (2.0)
    Unemployed138 (56.6)154 (63.1)
  Change in occupational status
    Remained the same209 (85.7)
    Lost job35 (14.3)
  Household monthly income
    < $20010 (4.1)11 (4.5)
    $200–$50078 (32.0)102 (41.8)
    $500–$70053 (21.7)48 (19.7)
    $700–$1,00036 (14.8)37 (15.2)
    $1,000–$1,50032 (13.1)38 (15.6)
    > $1,50035 (14.3)8 (3.3)
  Change in household monthly income
    Stable or increased148 (60.7)
    Decrease in income96 (39.3)
  Type of income
    Fixed171 (70.1)148 (60.7)
    Unfixed73 (29.9)96 (39.3)
  Change in income type
    No change192 (78.7)
    Lost fixed income52 (21.3)
  Medical insurance
    No105 (43.0)101 (41.4)
    Yes139 (57.0)143 (58.6)
  Change in insurance access
    No change229 (93.8)
    Lost medical insurance15 (6.1)
  Insurance coverage
    Hospital fees and treatment72 (29.5)86 (35.3)
    Hospital fees only22 (9.0)8 (3.3)
    Treatment only4 (1.6)2 (0.8)
    No coverage or uninsured146 (59.9)148 (60.7)
  Change in insurance coverage
    Same coverage228 (93.4)
    Lower level of coverage16 (6.6)
  Payment typea
    Insurance147 (60.2)179 (73.4)
    Assistance89 (36.5)58 (23.8)
    Cash159 (65.2)163 (66.8)
  Change in payment type
    No major difference196 (80.3)
    Lost cash or assistance48 (19.7)
  Conflict-related change in household setting
    Unaffected177 (72.5)
    Affected67 (27.5)
Outcome variables
  ECOG status
    No decline163 (66.8)
    Decline81 (33.2)
  NCCN compliance
    Non-compliance decrease194 (79.5)
    Non-compliance increase50 (20.5)
  Overall treatment
    No decline142 (58.2)
    Increase in reduced doses/incomplete regimen102 (41.8)

 

↓  Table 4. Bivariate Associations Between Sociodemographic and Systemic Characteristics With Main Study Outcomes
 
VariablesECOG gradeNCCN complianceOverall treatment receipt
No decline, N (%)Decline, N (%)Sig.No decline, N (%)Decline, N (%)Sig.No decline, N (%)Decline, N (%)Sig.
*P values are significant. ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Age group (years)0.001*0.5040.344
  18–299 (5.5%)0 (0%)6 (3.1%)3 (6.0%)4 (2.8%)5 (4.9%)
  30–4422 (13.5%2 (2.5%)20 (10.3%)4 (8.0%)17 (12.0%)7 (6.9%)
  45–5951 (31.3%13 (16.0%)51 (26.3%)13 (26.0%)36 (25.3%)28 (27.4%)
  60–7459 (36.2%)54 (66.7%)93 (47.9%)20 (40.0%)69 (48.6%)44 (43.1%)
  75–9022 (13.5%)12 (14.8%)24 (12.4%)10 (20.0%)16 (11.3%)18 (17.6%)
Gender0.4380.2580.268
  Male99 (60.7%)45 (55.6%)118 (60.8%)26 (52.0%)88 (62.0%)56 (54.9%)
  Female64 (39.3%)36 (44.4%)76 (39.2%)24 (48.0%)54 (38.0%)46 (45.1%)
Educational level0.6110.6760.316
  High school28 (17.2%)18 (22.2%)81 (41.7%)20 (40.0%)29 (20.4%)17 (16.7%)
  University71 (43.6%)30 (37.0%)39 (20.1%)7 (14.0%)56 (39.4%)45 (44.1%)
  Secondary37 (22.7%)15 (18.5%)41 (21.1%)11 (22.0%)35 (24.6%)17 (16.7%)
  Primary20 (12.3%)13 (16.0%)25 (12.9%)8 (16.0%)15 (10.6%)18 (17.6%)
  Illiterate7 (4.3%)5 (6.2%)8 (4.1%)4 (8.0%)7 (4.9%)5 (4.9%)
Center0.085< 0.001*0.534
  A42 (25.8%)12 (14.8%)46 (23.7%)8 (16.0%)34 (23.9%)20 (19.6%)
  B33 (20.2%)14 (17.3%)33 (17.0%)14 (28.0%)27 (19.0%)20 (19.6%)
  C12 (7.4%)4 (4.9%)11 (5.7%)5 (10.0%)7 (4.9%)9 (8.8%)
  D11 (6.7%)12 (14.8%)11 (5.7%)12 (24.0%)11 (7.7%)12 (11.8%)
  E65 (39.9%)39 (48.1%)93 (47.9%)11 (22.0%)63 (44.4%)41 (40.2%)

 

↓  Table 5. Unadjusted and Adjusted Logistic Regression Analyses of Factors Associated With ECOG Decline, NCCN Compliance Decline, and Deterioration in Treatment Receipt
 
FactorsDecline in ECOG status (Yes vs. No -ref-)Decline in NCCN compliance (Yes vs. No -ref-)Decline in overall treatment (Yes vs. No -ref-)
Decline, N (%)Univariate, OR (95% CI)Multivariate, AORa (95% CI)Sig.Decline, N (%)Univariate, OR (95% CI)Multivariate, AORb (95% CI)Sig.Decline, N (%)Univariate, OR (95% CI)Multivariate, AOR (95% CI)Sig.
aAdjusted for possible confounders: age, gender. bAdjusted age, gender, and center. *P values are significant. 1 is ref. cat. AOR: adjusted odds ratio; CI: confidence interval; ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; OR: odds ratio.
Mean change in number of children0.53 (0.3)0.9 (0.80–1.02)−0.52 (0.37)0.95 (0.1)1.07 (0.96–1.19)1.1 (0.98–1.23)0.103
Mean change in number of elderly0.78 (0.05)1.75 (1.25–2.45)1.66 (1.16–2.37)0.005*−0.07 (0.12)−0.08 (0.1)1.14 (0.83–1.57)1.22 (0.87–1.70)0.235
Change in occupational status
  Remained same64 (79.0)110.010*47 (94.0)110.11788 (86.3)110.94
  Lost job17 (21.0)2.13 (1.03–4.42)2.78 (1.27–6.07)3 (6.0)0.32 (0.09–1.10)0.38 (0.12–1.27)14 (13.8)0.91 (0.44–1.90)0.97 (0.44–2.09)
Change in household monthly income
  Stable or increased50 (61.7)163 (61.7)110.792
  Decrease in income31 (38.3)0.93 (0.54–1.62)39 (38.2)0.92 (0.55–1.56)0.92 (0.53–1.57)
Change in income source
  No change67 (82.3)139 (78.0)110.86981 (79.4)110.5
  Lost fixed income14 (17.3)0.69 (0.35–1.36)11 (22.0)1.05 (0.50–2.23)0.93 (0.42–2.15)21 (20.6)0.93 (0.50–1.73)0.79 (0.41–1.54)
Change in insurance access
  No change77 (95.1)146 (92.0)95 (93.1)110.034*
  Lost medical insurance4 (5.0)2.02 (1.29–32.8)4 (8.0)7 (6.9)1.23 (0.43–3.51)2.39 (1.07–5.34)
Change in insurance coverage
  Same coverage77 (97.5)147 (94.0)110.54897 (95.1)110.122
  Lower level of coverage2 (2.5)0.26 (0.12–32.8)3 (6.0)0.89 (0.24–3.25)2.28 (0.51–10.24)5 (4.9)1.62 (0.54–4.84)3.27 (0.72–14.72)
Change in payment type
  No major difference64 (79.0)110.23841 (82.0)110.81480 (78.4)110.027*
  Lost cash or assistance17 (21.0)1.13 (0.58–2.19)1.66 (0.72–3.85)9 (18.0)0.87 (0.39–1.95)1.12 (0.44–2.85)22 (21.6)1.23 (0.65–2.32)1.30 (1.03–1.64)
2024 Conflict-related change in household setting
  Unaffected56 (69.1)110.06773 (71.6)110.451
  Affected25 (30.9)1.29 (0.71–2.31)2.04 (0.95-4.37)29 (28.4)1.08 (0.61–1.91)0.95 (0.65–1.78)