Impact of socioeconomic status on bladder cancer outcome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To give an update on the possible influence of socioeconomic status on bladder cancer outcome. RECENT FINDINGS: Research to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on bladder cancer outcome has increased during the past 2 years. The findings of these studies show that socioeconomic status is a significant predictor of survival in male and female patients presenting with bladder cancer, when death from all causes is considered. Very limited data on the effect of affluence on bladder cancer-specific survival, however, are available. Bladder cancer is the only common malignancy for which women have a worse prognosis than men. Recent evidence suggests that the finding of worse survival in women may be confined to those from more deprived areas. SUMMARY: Bladder cancer outcomes are directly influenced by social deprivation.