Regional outcome disparities in German head and neck cancer patients: Shorter survival in Eastern Germany

Abstract Introduction Demographics are important prognostic factors in malignant diseases. A nationwide analysis concerning the prognostic impact of demographics in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients (HNCP) has not been performed previously. Methods A retrospective analysis of data from the Center for Cancer Registry Data (ZfKD) and the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) between 2002 and 2017 was performed. A total of 212′920 HNCP were included. Incidence, tumor stage, age development, sex distribution, age‐, residence‐, and diagnosis‐time‐specific survival were examined. Results Mean age of HNCP increased more rapidly than in the general population (slope coefficient: 0.29 vs. 0.20; p 70 years was found. Furthermore, an OS disadvantage was observed for East Germany compared to West Germany (median 47 vs. 60 months; p < 0.0001). This disparity was associated with a disproportionately high ratio of men in East Germany (men/women: 4.4 vs. 3.1; p < 0.0001) and a lower mean age (61 vs. 63 years; p < 0.0001). In addition to stage, age and sex, residence in East Germany were confirmed as an independent factor for OS in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion Finally, three decades after the German reunion, a survival disadvantage for patients in East Germany still exists. This discrepancy may be a result of socioeconomic disparities