Food Insecurity among Cancer Patients Enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Abstract

Purpose: Food insecurity, which leads to adverse health outcomes, has even more severe implications for cancer patients. Yet medically underserved cancer patients are more likely to be food insecure than the general population.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of intake data from patients who participated in the Integrated Cancer Care Access Network (ICCAN). ICCAN is a specialized program that addresses socioeconomic barriers to cancer care among underserved cancer patients in NYC. This study utilized ICCAN data from 2011 to 2017. The USDA food insecurity score, self-reported SNAP receipt, and SNAP eligibility based on household income were compared between SNAP and non-SNAP recipients.

Results: 681 patients were assessed for food insecurity. Sixty-nine percent of participants lived in food insecure households. Despite SNAP assistance, most SNAP recipients (68%) were food insecure; 69% of respondents who did not receive SNAP were also food insecure.

Conclusions: Underserved cancer patients who receive SNAP are still food insecure, hence at more significant risk for its associated negative outcomes. Supplemental programs for patients with chronic diseases are needed in clinics with large low income populations. SNAP benefits should account for the additional financial burden posed by treatment costs and exceptional circumstances faced by cancer patients.

Disclosure Statement

To the best of our knowledge, no conflict of interest, financial or other, exists for any of the authors except for V. Blinder (Pfizer, Inc. consultant fee). This manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration in the same or substantially similar form in any other peer-reviewed media.

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving research study participants were approved by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Institutional Review Board/Privacy Board and from each study site. Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Data Availability Statement

We have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review our data if requested.

Authors’ Contributions

All authors listed have contributed sufficiently to the project to be included as authors, and all those who are qualified to be authors are listed in the author byline. All authors (F. Gany, I. Melnic, J. Ramirez, M. Wu, Y. Li, L. Paolantonio, J. Smith, S. Pan, N. Roberts-Eversley, V. Blinder, J. Leng) had a role in formulating the research question(s), designing the study, carrying it out, analyzing the data, and writing the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study and all authors were supported by National Cancer Institute: Core Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) and The CCNY/MSKCC Partnership for Cancer Research Training & Community Outreach (U54 CA137788), Laurie Tisch Illumination Fund, New York Community Trust, New York City Council, and AVON Foundation.