Temporal trends show improved breast cancer survival in Australia but widening urban-rural differences

Xue Qin Yu; Qingwei Luo; Clare Kahn; Dianne L O'Connell; Nehmat Houssami

doi:10.1016/j.breast.2015.03.006

Temporal trends show improved breast cancer survival in Australia but widening urban-rural differences

Breast. 2015 Aug;24(4):524-7. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2015.03.006. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Authors

Xue Qin Yu¹, Qingwei Luo², Clare Kahn³, Dianne L O'Connell⁴, Nehmat Houssami⁵

Affiliations

¹ Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: xueqiny@nswcc.org.au.
² Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
³ Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
⁵ Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 25843905
DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2015.03.006

Abstract

We examined geographic patterns in breast cancer survival over time using population-based data for breast cancer diagnosed between 1987 and 2007 in New South Wales, Australia. We found that five-year relative survival increased during the entire study period. Multivariable analysis indicated that there was little geographic variation in 1992-1996, but in 1997-2001 and 2002-2007 geographic variation was statistically significant (P < 0.01), with women living in rural areas having higher risk of death from breast cancer. The underlying reasons for this widening survival disparity must be identified so that appropriately targeted interventions can be implemented and the disparity reduced.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Geography; Inequality; Population health; Survival; Temporal trends.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
Female
Geography, Medical
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Middle Aged
New South Wales
Registries
Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
Survival Analysis
Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
Young Adult