Sex differences in comorbid conditions, health behaviors, health care utilization, and health-related quality of life among young adult cancer survivors

PurposeAlthough cancer experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) differ by sex, little is known about how sex affects comorbid conditions, health behaviors, health service utilization, and HRQOL in young adult (YA) cancer survivors. We sought to determine the relationship of sex to these factors in this population.MethodsThis matched case-control, cross-sectional study used data from the Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 2015-2019. YA survivors aged 18-39 years, were matched to controls. Chi-square and multiple logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship between sex and the measured factors.ResultsThe analysis included 276 YA survivors and 828 controls. Male survivors were more likely than male controls to have a depressive disorder (OR = 3.06, p = 0.007), smoke (OR = 3.87, p < 0.001), and forgo health care because of cost (OR = 5.60, p < 0.001). Female survivors were more likely than female controls to have at least one comorbidity (OR = 3.52, p < 0.001), forgo health care because of cost (OR = 3.03, p < 0.001), and report poorer HRQOL (aORs = 1.52-2.22, p < 0.05). Female survivors were more likely to have at least one comorbid condition (aOR = 1.70, p = 0.02) than male survivors.ConclusionYA cancer survivors differed in their health outcomes from both the general population and by sex. Tailored, sex-based interventions are needed to decrease long-term morbidity and improve HROQL in this population.