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OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of advance directive (AD) completion among Black adults vs non-Hispanic White adults within Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health system that includes access to outpatient advance care planning (ACP) specialists and to identify medical services utilization patterns and societal factors that could influence ACP engagement. DESIGN: The study was carried out through retrospective analysis of electronic health record data of active Kaiser Permanente Northern California members from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017, who were age 55 and older, and represented 572,466 active members, of which 11.7% were Black adults. The primary objective was AD completion comparing Black adults to non-Hispanic White adults. Demographic data included age, sex, comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3) and medical services utilization (inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department [ED] use). Sociodemographic data derived from census data that include census block demographics and head of household educational attainment were utilized. RESULTS: Black adults were younger, but had a higher burden of comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3, 25.3% vs 19.3%) and were more likely to have multiple ED visits (6.7% vs 3.3%) compared to non-Hispanic White adults. The crude AD completion rate was lower among Black adults (10.0% vs 20.3%), and after adjusting for age and health system service area, the difference remained largely unchanged (11.7% vs 20.3%) compared to non-Hispanic White adults. CONCLUSIONS: Among Kaiser Permanente Northern California members with access to outpatient ACP specialists, Black adults were only half as likely to complete an AD. This disparity was only slightly attenuated when standardized for age and health system service area. In addition, Black adults were also less likely to use outpatient services and more likely to use ED services.

Background Colonoscopy surveillance is recommended for patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) following adenoma removal. Low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups are defined by baseline adenoma characteristics. We previously examined intermediate-risk patients from hospital data and identified a higher-risk subgroup who benefited from surveillance and a lower-risk subgroup who may not require surveillance. This study explored whether these findings apply in individuals undergoing CRC screening. Methods This retrospective study used data from the UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial (UKFSST), English CRC screening pilot (ECP), and US Kaiser Permanente CRC prevention program (KPCP). Screening participants (50 – 74 years) classified as intermediate-risk at baseline colonoscopy were included. CRC data were available through 2006 (KPCP) or 2014 (UKFSST, ECP). Lower- and higher-risk subgroups were defined using our previously identified baseline risk factors: higher-risk participants had incomplete colonoscopies, poor bowel preparation, adenomas ≥ 20 mm or with high-grade dysplasia, or proximal polyps. We compared CRC incidence in these subgroups and in the presence vs. absence of surveillance using Cox regression. Results Of 2291 intermediate-risk participants, 45 % were classified as higher risk. Median follow-up was 11.8 years. CRC incidence was higher in the higher-risk than lower-risk subgroup (hazard ratio [HR] 2.08, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.07 – 4.06). Surveillance reduced CRC incidence in higher-risk participants (HR 0.35, 95 %CI 0.14 – 0.86) but not statistically significantly so in lower-risk participants (HR 0.41, 95 %CI 0.12 – 1.38). Conclusion As previously demonstrated for hospital patients, screening participants classified as intermediate risk comprised two risk subgroups. Surveillance clearly benefited the higher-risk subgroup.