Table 2. Comparison of Access to Proton Beam Therapy Facilities by Population Subgroups in the United States, 2017-2021a.
| Category | Total, millions, No. (%) | Driving time, median (IQR), minb | Poor access to proton beam therapy facilities, millions, No. (%)c |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 327.5 (100) | 96.1 (39.6-195.3) | 53.6 (16.4) |
| Race and ethnicity | |||
| Hispanic (all race) | 60.6 (18.5) | 76.9 (33.1-201.1) | 12.2 (20.2) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian | 18.0 (5.5) | 61.0 (30.0-194.2) | 3.6 (20.0) |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 40.1 (12.3) | 63.3 (29.5-172.2) | 4.0 (9.9) |
| Non-Hispanic White | 195.3 (59.6) | 109.8 (48.0-197.6) | 31.0 (15.9) |
| Social determinants of health | |||
| Age ≥65 y | 52.5 (16.0) | 103.0 (43.6-196.7) | 8.7 (16.6) |
| Uninsured | 28.3 (8.7) | 93.1 (35.9-195.0) | 4.6 (16.4) |
| With disability | 40.8 (12.5) | 107.7 (44.8-201.1) | 6.9 (17.0) |
| Living below federal poverty line | 40.5 (12.4) | 103.6 (40.6-201.1) | 7.0 (17.2) |
| Urbanicity | |||
| Suburban | 35.1 (10.7) | 164.8 (109.3-229.9) | 7.8 (22.3) |
| Rural | 10.4 (3.2) | 190.3 (143.9-276.1) | 3.5 (33.2) |
| Households | 123.3 (100) | 98.5 (39.7-195.3) | 20.0 (16.2) |
| Social determinants of health | |||
| Limited vehicle availability | 50.3 (40.8) | 90.9 (34.6-187.6) | 7.4 (14.7) |
| No broadband | 16.0 (13.0) | 114.4 (47.0-202.1) | 2.7 (16.8) |
a
Data are from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2017 to 2021.
b
Population and population subgroup driving times calculated by assigning the applicable number of individuals as weights to their corresponding census tract driving times and computing the weighted medians and interquartile ranges.
c
Poor access to PBT facilities is defined as a 1-way commute of greater than or equal to 4 hours to the nearest facility.