查看文章

Background: Socioeconomic class (SEC), measured by educational attainment, is recognized as a notable factor influencing outcomes in prostate cancer. This study evaluated the effects of income status on the prevalence, treatment, and hospitalization outcomes among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Methods: The combined 2016–2020 nationwide inpatient sample database was queried for all hospitalizations for a primary diagnosis of prostate cancer using ICD-10-CM codes. Socioeconomic status was defined based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) median annual income index into the lowest SEC ($1–$49,999), the lower SEC ($50,000–$64,999), the high SEC ($65,000–$85,999), and the highest SEC ($≥86,000). Baseline characteristics were compared using Pearson’s χ2 tests and the Kruskal-Wallis test for nominal and continuous variables. Outcomes of interest were …