Decline in Credit Scores Following Cancer Diagnosis Tied to Higher Mortality Risks

Recent research indicates that cancer patients experiencing a drop in their credit scores after diagnosis are at a significantly increased risk of mortality. This groundbreaking study establishes a direct link between financial health deterioration and physical survival, highlighting how financial toxicity can impact clinical outcomes.

The study, presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2025 in Chicago, analyzed data from the Massachusetts Cancer Registry merged with credit bureau information spanning from 2010 to 2019. The research involved 42,451 patients, revealing that 8.5% developed financial toxicity—defined as experiencing a credit score below 600 within 1.5 years of diagnosis. An additional 3% already faced financial toxicity at diagnosis.

Massachusetts boasts a high health insurance coverage rate of approximately 97–98%, suggesting that in states with lower coverage, the severity of financial toxicity and its impact on health outcomes may be even greater. The study's lead author, Dr. Benjamin C. James, emphasized that a declining credit score correlates with increased mortality risk, providing healthcare providers with an additional factor to consider in patient care.

Key findings include: Patients who lost two credit score tiers within a year faced a 29% higher likelihood of death. A decline of one tier within six months post-diagnosis increased death risk by 12%, with a two-tier decline raising the odds by 63%. Conversely, improvements in credit score did not necessarily lead to better outcomes.

Demographic factors such as younger age (21-44 years), Black and Hispanic races, and socioeconomic factors like being separated or divorced, having less than a college education, smoking, relying on public insurance, and living in areas with higher poverty rates significantly increased the risk of financial toxicity.

Income level also played a crucial role, with patients earning under $30,000 annually being 3.66 times more likely to experience financial toxicity than those earning between $50,000 and $69,000. Dr. James highlighted that socioeconomic disparities influence access to care and can lead to adverse health outcomes beyond cancer itself, including death related to financial toxicity rather than the disease.

This research underscores the importance of considering patients' financial health as an integral part of cancer care, suggesting that interventions could help mitigate these risks. The findings add to the growing awareness that social determinants of health, such as financial stability, are vital to improving long-term survival rates for cancer patients.