(A635) Sociodemographic Indices in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Geographic-based sociodemographic indices (SDI) are increasingly utilized to analyze social determinants of health (SDOH) in head and neck cancer (HNC). This scoping review aims to characterize the methodology and findings of HNC literature utilizing SDIs.

Methods: A preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework (ID: vhm2n) and conducted across multiple databases from inception to June 12th, 2024. Study selection and characterization were performed by 2 independent reviewers and an unbiased moderator.

Results: Of the 4,310 unique abstracts identified, 32 articles were included. Studies were mostly retrospective national database studies (n=17, 53.13%) and exhibited a wide sample size distribution [98-1,277,301] with an equal number in the [501-1,000] range (n=8, 25%), [10,000-50,000] range (n=8, 25%), and [50,000+] range (n=8, 25%). The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was the most common SDI (n=12, 37.50%) followed by Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) (n=10, 31.25%). Most SDIs were stratified on a continuous scale (n=18, 56.25%). The 5 most common primary outcomes assessed were surveillance period and prognosis (n=9, 28.13%), survival (n=4, 12.50%), delay in treatment (n=3, 9.38%), treatment choice (n=3, 9.38%), and incidence (n=3, 9.38%). 29 studies (90.6%), including all SVI studies (n=10) and 75% of ADI studies (n=9), found a significant association between disadvantage and worse primary outcomes.

Conclusions: Greater sociodemographic disadvantage was robustly associated with worse outcomes despite differing SDI constructs, methodology, stratifications, and outcomes. SDIs have utility in HNC research and should be further studied to better standardize their use for clinical application.