Academic Journal
Impact of Lebanon's Economic Crisis on Cancer Care Delivery: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study of Treatment Initiation Delays and Incomplete Therapy.
| Τίτλος: | Impact of Lebanon's Economic Crisis on Cancer Care Delivery: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study of Treatment Initiation Delays and Incomplete Therapy. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Hachem MA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon.; International Department, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 94800 Villejuif, France., Zayour N; Organized Research Unit, Al Zahraa Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut P.O. Box 90-361, Lebanon., Daibess E; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon.; International Department, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 94800 Villejuif, France., Najjar J; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Karam EJ; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Farhat S; Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Hammoud Z; Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Nasreddine GM; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Abbass M; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Sleiman Z; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon., Sadek M; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Lebanese Hospital Geitaoui-University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon., Ibrahim A; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut P.O. Box 11-6301, Lebanon., Chehade I; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Rafik Hariri Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon., Matar B; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut P.O. Box 14-6573, Lebanon.; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Al Zahraa Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut P.O. Box 90-361, Lebanon. |
| Πηγή: | Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) [Curr Oncol] 2026 Aug 14; Vol. 33 (8). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 14. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Multicenter Study |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 9502503 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1718-7729 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 11980052 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Oncol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2021- : Basel, Switzerland : MDPI Original Publication: Toronto : Multimed, c1994- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Neoplasms*/therapy , Neoplasms*/economics , Delivery of Health Care*/economics , Economic Recession*, Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Lebanon ; Female ; Treatment Delay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged |
| Περίληψη: | Background/Objectives: In Lebanon, the economic crisis since 2019 has severely strained healthcare infrastructure, yet its impact on cancer treatment adherence remains incompletely characterized. This study assessed factors associated with treatment delay and regimen modification to identify barriers to optimal cancer care among Lebanese patients. Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Beirut, Lebanon, between 13 June 2024, and 27 June 2025. Demographic, clinical and treatment data were collected via a structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of treatment delay (>2 weeks) and incomplete treatment regimens. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Results: A total of 244 patients were enrolled in the study. The study population was predominantly female (59.0%) and aged ≥60 years (60.2%). Advanced disease was common, with 50.4% of patients presenting with stage IV disease. Financial vulnerability was widespread: 72.6% reported monthly household incomes below USD 1000, 88.1% reported a decline in income due to the economic crisis, and 39.3% relied on unstable income sources. Overall, 52.5% of patients experienced treatment initiation delays, and 9.0% received incomplete or dose-reduced regimens. On multivariable analysis, reliance on unfixed income independently predicted treatment delay (aOR 2.55, 95% CI 1.42-4.59; p = 0.002), lack of health insurance (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.08-3.39; p = 0.026) and pre-treatment surgical costs also increased the odds of delay (aOR 9.03, 95% CI 2.57-31.7; p = 0.001). For incomplete treatment, unfixed income remained an independent predictor (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.16-5.79; p = 0.015). A lack of insurance (aOR 5.62, 95% CI 1.22-25.9; p = 0.027) and high laboratory costs (>USD 150 per session) were also associated with incomplete regimens (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.02-2.57; p = 0.041). Conclusions: In Lebanon's crisis context, financial instability was a key factor associated with deviations in cancer treatment. These findings highlight the need for strengthened insurance coverage and subsidization of diagnostic and treatment-related costs to ensure timely and continuous oncologic care. |
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| Grant Information: | Roche Pharmaceuticals |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Lebanon; NCCN guideline adherence; cancer; cancer care delivery; economic crisis; financial vulnerability; incomplete treatment; treatment delays |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260826 Date Completed: 20260826 Latest Revision: 20260911 |
| Update Code: | 20260911 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13511669 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/curroncol33080478 |
| PMID: | 42645383 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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