The socioeconomic determinants of cancer

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 2013

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 1994

Study objective-To investigate social differences in cancer incidence in Turin, Italy in 1985-87. Design-A cancer incidence follow up study of the Turin population in relation to socioeconomic characteristics was performed through record linkage between the 1981 census and the cancer registry. A case-control study nested in the cohort was analysed, where cases were subjects with a new diagnosis of cancer in 1985-87 and controls were a sample of the Turin population, frequency matched by sex and age group. Incidence odd ratios (ORs) were calculated for social classes (defined by education, housing tenure, and socioeconomic group) using a logistic regression model.

Cancer Causes & Control, 2016

Inequalities in cancer incidence and mortality across medium to highly developed countries in the twenty-first century. Cancer Causes and Control, 27(8), pp. 999-1007. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it.

BMC public health, 2009

The objective of this study was to assess trends in cancer mortality by educational level in Barcelona from 1992 to 2003.

Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, 2013

Background. Cancer incidence rates vary considerably between countries and by socioeconomic status (SES). We investigate the impact of SES upon the relative cancer risk in two neighbouring countries. Methods. Data on 229,824 cases for 16 cancers diagnosed in 1995-2007 were extracted from the cancer registries in Northern Ireland (NI) and Republic of Ireland (RoI). Cancers in the two countries were compared using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) adjusted for age and age plus area-based SES. Results. Adjusting for SES in addition to age had a considerable impact on NI/RoI comparisons for cancers strongly related to SES. Before SES adjustment, lung cancer incidence rates were 11% higher for males and 7% higher for females in NI, while after adjustment, the IRR was not statistically significant. Cervical cancer rates were lower in NI than in RoI after adjustment for age (IRR: 0.90 (0.84-0.97)), with this difference increasing after adjustment for SES (IRR: 0.85 (0.79-0.92)). For cancers with a weak or nonexistent relationship to SES, adjustment for SES made little difference to the IRR. Conclusion. Socioeconomic factors explain some international variations but also obscure other crucial differences; thus, adjustment for these factors should not become part of international comparisons.

Cancer Epidemiology, 2020

Background: The effect of inequalities aggravated by economic recessions in the mortality rates of certain diseases has been previously described. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and cancer mortality. We focused on lung, colon, prostate, and breast cancers in nine European urban areas over three periods: two before (2000-2003 and 2004-2008) and one after (2009-2014) the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. Methods: This is an ecological study of trends. The units of analysis were small areas within nine European urban areas. We used a composite deprivation index as a socioeconomic indicator. As a mortality indicator, we used the smoothed standardized mortality ratio, calculated using the hierarchical Bayesian model proposed by Besag, York and Mollié. To analyze the evolution of socioeconomic inequalities, we fitted an ecological regression model that included the socioeconomic indicator, the period of time, and the interaction between these terms. Results: In men, socioeconomic inequalities in all-cancer and lung cancer mortality were observed in most of the cities studied, but did not increase after the onset of the economic crisis. In women, only two cities (Stockholm and London) showed socioeconomic inequalities in all-cancer and lung cancer mortality; there was also no increase in inequalities. Conclusions: Our results did not validate our hypothesis that inequalities increase in times of crisis. However, they emphasize the importance of socioeconomic measurements for understanding mortality inequalities, and can be used to inform prevention strategies and help plan local health programs aimed at reducing health inequalities.

Journal of Public Health, 2023

Aim This study investigates the impact of gender inequality on cancer mortality among European women across 27 countries from 2013 to 2020. The study explores the link between gender inequality and cancer mortality, employing pooled ordinary least squares regression. It evaluates socioeconomic gaps, healthcare access disparities, risky behaviours, and elements like screening, education, and life expectancy. The study also investigates how healthcare spending, employment, self-perceived health, and leisure activities influence mortality. The study shows that breast and cervical cancer screenings (BCS) significantly reduce cancer-related deaths among European women (CDW), with a negative impact of -0.0875. Similarly, tertiary education and participation in education and training (WEP) show a negative impact of -0.0021. Absolute life expectancy for women at birth (LEW) demonstrates a negative impact of -5.2603, all contributing to decreased cancer-related deaths. Conversely, certain variables have a contradictory positive impact on CDW. Total healthcare expenditure (HCE) has a positive impact of +0.0311, and full-time equivalent employment (FER) of +0.3212. Women engaging in activities (WLW) has a positive impact of +0.6572. Self-perception of good health (WHG), refraining from smoking or harmful drinking (NSN) (+0.2649), and an active lifestyle with consumption of fruits and vegetables (PAF) (+0.2649) also impact positively, collectively contributing to increased cancer mortality among women. The study highlights the importance of combating gender inequality to decrease cancer deaths in European women. Strategies include closing healthcare gaps and enhancing health education. Complex links between smoking, alcohol, and cancer mortality require further research. Interventions targeting disparities, healthcare access, and risky behaviours can notably lower cancer mortality.

European Journal of Cancer, 2008

Denmark Incidence Survival Cancer A B S T R A C T The purpose of this nationwide, population register-based study was to describe variations in cancer incidence and survival by social position in a social welfare state, Denmark, on the basis of a range of socioeconomic, demographic and health-related indicators. Our study population comprised all 3.22 million Danish residents born in 1925-1973 and aged P30 years, who were followed up for cancer incidence in 1994-2003 and for survival in 1994-2006, yielding 147,973 cancers. The incidence increased with lower education and

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2021

Background Compared with those with a higher socio-economic position (SEP), individuals with a lower SEP have higher cancer morbidity and mortality. However, the contribution of modifiable risk factors to these inequities is not known. This study aimed to quantify the mediating effects of modifiable risk factors to associations between SEP and cancer morbidity and mortality. Methods This study used a prospective observational cohort design. We combined eight cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000/2001–2011) as baseline data to identify a cohort of adults (≥35 years) without cancer at the time of survey administration (n = 309 800). The cohort was linked to the Discharge Abstract Database and the Canadian Mortality Database for cancer morbidity and mortality ascertainment. Individuals were followed from the date they completed the Canadian Community Health Survey until 31 March 2013. Dates of individual first hospitalizations for cancer and deaths due to cancer were cap...

Basic & Clinical Cancer Research, 2021

Background: Socioeconomic status, as a major determinant of health, has a considerable impact on the cancer survival rate. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic factors on the 5-year survival rate for the most common cancer types in 56 countries. Methods: In this ecological study, 5-year survival data for gastric cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia during the period of 2005-2009 and socioeconomic factors including gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, literacy rate, urbanization and healthcare expenditure were extracted from the CONCORD-2 study and the World Bank database, respectively. multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the model with the ordinary least-squares (OLS) method using Stata 14 software. Results: The GDP coefficient for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia was positive and significant. No correlation was identified between gastric,...