Socioeconomic status and survival in glioblastoma

Background: Glioblastoma (WHO Grade IV glioma) patients have a dismal prognosis, with a median life expectancy of under two years. The influence of patient socioeconomic status on survival has not been clearly established. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed glioblastoma patients seen and treated at our institution from 2001-2012, correlating survival with socioeconomic status, as estimated by the census tract poverty levels, defined by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the NCI. Results: A total of 131 patients were evaluable. Median overall survival (OS) was 12 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.51-14.89 months). No association between OS and socioeconomic status was identified. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status does not seem to have an effect on overall survival in glioblastoma. This suggests that the dismal prognosis of this disease reflects the intrinsic biology of this tumor type, as patients had access to all currently available treatments including surgery, radiation therapy, and since 2005, standard chemotherapy with temozolomide.