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. 2021 Jan 23;5(1):pkaa123. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa123

Table 2.

Factors associated with HRQOL among cancer survivors, MEPS 2016a multivariable model

Characteristic Global physical health
 Global mental health
Bivariate model
 Multivariable model
 Bivariate model
 Multivariable model
β (SE) P β (SE) P β (SE) P β (SE) P
Sociodemographic factors
 Age group, y
  18-54 Ref Ref Ref Ref
   55-64 3.02 (0.78) <.001 2.66 (0.66) <.001 3.34 (0.84) <.001 2.79 (0.75) <.001
   65-74 0.81 (0.63) .20 2.99 (0.51) <.001 1.47 (0.48) .003 2.69 (0.44) <.001
   ≥75 −0.21 (0.51) .69 3.24 (0.51) <.001 2.73 (0.49) <.001 4.81 (0.47) <.001
 Sex
   Male Ref Ref
   Female −1.29 (0.45) .005 — — −0.27 (0.42) 0.52 — —
 Race/ethnicity
   Non-Hispanic White only Ref Ref Ref Ref
   All other race/ethnicities −2.53 (0.47) <.001 −1.76 (0.53) .001 −3.37 (0.43) <.001 −2.41 (0.39) <.001
 Current marital status
   Married Ref Ref Ref Ref
   Not marrieda −2.63 (0.50) <.001 1.02 (0.48) .04 −2.83 (0.52) <.001 −0.10 (0.57) .86
 Educational attainment
   Less than high school graduate Ref Ref Ref Ref
   High school graduate 4.28 (0.58) <.001 1.00 (0.52) .06 3.29 (0.66) <.001 0.73 (0.55) .19
   Some college or more 7.86 (0.59) <.001 1.82 (0.54) <.001 6.86 (0.67) <.001 1.88 (0.58) .002
 Family income as percent of poverty line
   Low income ≤138% Ref Ref Ref Ref
   Middle income 139%-400% 2.79 (0.62) <.001 1.11 (0.58) .06 2.29 (0.73) .002 0.97 (0.57) .09
   High income >400% 8.44 (0.54) <.001 3.60 (0.60) <.001 7.32 (0.74) <.001 3.44 (0.68) <.001
 Health insurance coveragec
   Any private Ref Ref Ref Ref
   Public only −6.35 (0.52) <.001 −2.70 (0.43) <.001 −5.12 (0.41) <.001 −1.68 (0.37) <.001
 Employment status
   Employed Ref Ref
   Retired −4.10 (0.50) <.001 — — −1.62 (0.48) .001 — —
   Unable to work because ill/disabled −15.42 (0.60) <.001 — — −12.29 (0.62) <.001 — —
   Not working for other reasons −8.10 (0.81) <.001 — — −6.58 (0.62) <.001 — —
Clinical factors
 No. of comorbid conditionsd
  0 Ref Ref Ref Ref
  1 −0.52 (0.84) .54 −0.72 (0.72) .32 −1.14 (0.79) 0.15 −1.33 (0.83) .11
  2 −4.19 (0.74) <.001 −4.50 (0.65) <.001 −2.08 (0.74) .006 −2.87 (0.78) <.001
  3 −5.80 (0.65) <.001 −4.89 (0.58) <.001 −3.64 (0.87) <.001 −3.30 (0.81) <0.001
  ≥4 −11.95 (0.69) <.001 −9.80 (0.70) <.001 −8.29 (0.75) <.001 −7.08 (.77) <.001
 Comorbid conditiond
  Arthritis −6.07 (0.50) <.001 — — −3.67 (0.45) <.001 — —
  Asthma −5.14 (0.67) <.001 — — −5.16 (0.60) <.001 — —
  Diabetes −7.42 (0.62) <.001 — — −5.43 (0.36) <.001 — —
  Emphysema −8.42 (0.75) <.001 — — −7.92 (0.66) <.001 — —
  Heart disease −4.98 (0.50) <.001 — — −2.33 (0.44) <.001 — —
  High cholesterol −2.95 (0.41) <.001 — — −1.87 (0.39) <.001 — —
  Hypertension −5.34 (0.51) <.001 — — −3.80 (0.44) <.001 — —
  Stroke −8.23 (0.59) <.001 — — −6.90 (0.47) <.001 — —
 Cancer type
  Female breast only Ref Ref Ref Ref
  Prostate only 1.52 (0.64) .02 1.29 (0.40) .002 1.63 (0.56) .004 1.13 (0.43) .009
  Female other −2.51 (0.51) <.001 −0.54 (0.40) .18 −1.66 (0.48) <.001 0.44 (0.40) .28
  Male other −1.31 (0.71) .06 −0.96 (0.59) .10 −2.18 (0.56) .001 −1.69 (0.54) .002
 Years since last cancer treatment
  <1 Ref Ref Ref Ref
  1 to <5 2.36 (0.63) <.001 1.56 (0.52) .003 0.86 (0.55) .12 0.11 (0.43) .81
  ≥5 4.58 (0.55) <.001 3.37 (0.44) <.001 2.92 (0.53) <.001 1.86 (0.43) <.001
  Never treated/missing 3.86 (0.73) <.001 3.95 (0.74) <.001 2.72 (1.01) .008 2.42 (1.00) .01
Lifestyle factors
 BMI, kg/m2
  18.5-24.9 Ref Ref Ref Ref
  25-29.9 −0.53 (0.58) .36 −0.61 (0.50) .22 0.28 (0.62) .65 0.10 (0.53) .85
  ≥30 −5.78 (0.63) <.001 −2.88 (0.46) <.001 −3.85 (0.44) <.001 −1.47 (0.39) <.001
 Meeting physical activity guidelinese
  Yes Ref Ref Ref Ref
  No/unknown −7.65 (0.40) <.001 −4.42 (0.34) <.001 −5.81 (0.37) <.001 −3.38 (0.32) <.001
 Current smoker
  No/unknown Ref Ref Ref Ref
  Yes −6.06 (0.61) <.001 −2.08 (0.67) .002 −8.92 (0.42) <.0001 −4.99 (0.48) <.001
a

Results from linear regression models. In multivariable models, sex and cancer type were combined into 1one variable, employment status was excluded due to high collinearity with age, and number of comorbid conditions and exact comorbid conditions were included in models alternatively. — = inapplicable as the variable was not included in the multivariable models; BMI = body mass index; HRQOL = health-related quality of life; MEPS = Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

b

Not married includes widowed, divorced, separated, or never married.

c

Public insurance includes Medicare, Medicaid, and/or other public hospital or physician coverage. TRICARE/CHAMPVA was treated as private coverage, as were employer-based, union-based, and other private insurance.

d

Comorbid conditions include arthritis, asthma, diabetes, emphysema, heart disease (angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack, other heart condition or disease), high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke.

e

Meeting physical activity guidelines defined by currently spending one-half hour or more in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 5 times per week based on the American Cancer Society guideline.