Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, which disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survival outcomes are due to a complex interplay of socioeconomic factors, structural racism, and limited access to high-quality care. This review aims to examine the underlying causes of these disparities and explore potential mitigation strategies to improve lung cancer care equity. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted, evaluating racial and ethnic disparities in lung cancer care. Disparities in lung cancer screening, genomic testing, surgical and systemic treatment, and survival were explored. Additionally, interventional strategies such as risk-based screening, patient navigation programs, and policy reforms were examined. Results: Racial and ethnic minority patients are diagnosed at younger ages with fewer pack-years yet are less likely to qualify for screening under current guidelines. They receive lower rates of guideline-concordant treatment, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biomarker testing, and have reduced access to specialty care. Socioeconomic barriers, medical mistrust, and geographic disparities further contribute to these inequities. Targeted interventions, including mobile screening programs, financial assistance initiatives, and culturally competent care, have shown promise in improving lung cancer outcomes. Conclusion: A multi-level approach, incorporating healthcare policy changes, improved screening criteria, and an enhanced community engagement strategy, is essential for achieving equitable lung cancer care, ultimately improving outcomes for racial minority populations.
背景：肺癌是美国癌症相关死亡的主要原因，对少数种族和民族群体的影响尤为严重。肺癌筛查、诊断、治疗及生存结局的差异源于社会经济因素、结构性种族主义以及高质量医疗资源获取受限等多重因素的复杂交互作用。本文旨在探讨这些差异的根本原因，并研究改善肺癌医疗公平性的潜在缓解策略。 方法：通过文献综述，评估肺癌医疗中的种族与民族差异。研究涵盖了肺癌筛查、基因组检测、手术与系统性治疗以及生存率等方面的差异。同时，探讨了基于风险的筛查、患者导航项目及政策改革等干预策略。 结果：少数种族和民族患者确诊时年龄更轻、吸烟史更短，但在现行指南下符合筛查条件的可能性更低。他们接受指南推荐治疗（包括手术、放疗、化疗及生物标志物检测）的比例较低，且获得专科医疗的机会更少。社会经济障碍、医疗信任缺失及地域差异进一步加剧了这些不平等。针对性干预措施，如移动筛查项目、经济援助计划及文化适应性医疗服务，已显示出改善肺癌结局的潜力。 结论：实现肺癌医疗公平性需要采取多层次策略，包括医疗政策改革、优化筛查标准以及加强社区参与，这对于改善少数种族群体的肺癌结局至关重要。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家