Association between early job loss and prognosis among hepatocellular carcinoma survivors.

Background: Early job loss after curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with significant socioeconomic and health challenges, potentially worsening patient outcomes.

Aims: To examine the impact of early job loss on all-cause mortality among HCC survivors following curative treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Korean National Health Insurance Service data on 4578 HCC survivors (aged 35-54) with economic activity treated between 2009 and 2015. Primary and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and HCC recurrence, respectively. Early job loss was defined as a shift from insurer to dependent status. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models, and subgroup analyses were performed. Causal mediation analysis assessed early HCC recurrence as a mediator between early job loss and all-cause mortality.

Results: Among 4578 patients (median follow-up, 8.3 years), 1189 (26%) died including 989 (25%) in the job-maintained group and 200 (35%) in the early job loss group (P < .001). Early job loss was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.52 [95% CI 1.30-1.78]), but not with HCC recurrence (adjusted HR 1.07 [95% CI 0.91-1.25]). Subgroup analyses showed prominent association among middle-income level, non-liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholism, or surgical resection group. Early HCC recurrence plays a significant mediating role on the relationship between early job loss and all-cause mortality (mediated proportion 19%, 95% CI 5-31%).

Conclusions: Early job loss may increase risk of all-cause mortality among HCC survivors undergoing curative treatment.