AN ODDS RATIO OF HEAD AND NECK RADIATION THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS BASED ON PATIENTS' INSURANCE STATUS

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Objective. To assess the odds for oral complications following radiation therapy (XRT) to the head and neck (HN), for Florida Medicaid/uninsured patients when compared to the privately insured. Background. HN cancer patients that are Medicaid/uninsured are at an increased risk of death after diagnosis, when compared to the privately insured (Kwok, 2010.Cancer,116:467-85). Many HN cancer patients that receive XRT suffer from many associated acute and chronic side effects that manifest in the oral cavity, and can affect healing after surgery and quality of life. Methods. Patients previously treated for HN cancer with XRT and surgery will be identified by surgical logs from the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The patients will have had a solitary HN primary and received, at minimum, a dose of 50 Gy. From patient follow up we will record all complications post XRT, including xerostomia, tissue breakdown, fistula formation, edema, poor wound healing, weight loss and disease free survival. Values for all criteria will be compared with a t-test, and analyzed with an odds ratio to determine the odds of complications. Results. To be determined Conclusion. We hypothesize that Medicaid/uninsured patients are at increased odds for oral health complications post XRT for the head and neck. Further oral health counseling could be considered as prevention and to improve these patients' quality of life. Grants. This study is unfunded