Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020

Abstract Background Cancer mortality rates overall in the U.S. have decreased significantly; however, the rate of decline has not been uniform across sociodemographic groups. We aimed to compare trends in cancer mortality rates from 1999 to 2020 between rural and urban individuals and to examine whe...

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Main Authors: Itunu O. Sokale, Syed Ahsan Raza, Aaron P. Thrift
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-09-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6451
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author Itunu O. Sokale
Syed Ahsan Raza
Aaron P. Thrift
author_facet Itunu O. Sokale
Syed Ahsan Raza
Aaron P. Thrift
author_sort Itunu O. Sokale
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cancer mortality rates overall in the U.S. have decreased significantly; however, the rate of decline has not been uniform across sociodemographic groups. We aimed to compare trends in cancer mortality rates from 1999 to 2020 between rural and urban individuals and to examine whether any rural–urban differences are uniform across racial and ethnic groups. Methods We used U.S.‐wide data from the National Center for Health Statistics, for all cancer deaths among individuals aged 25 years or older. We estimated average annual percentage change (AAPC) in age‐standardized cancer mortality rates in the U.S. by cancer type, rural–urban status, sex, and race and ethnicity. Results There was a larger reduction in cancer mortality rates among individuals from urban (males: AAPC, −1.96%; 95% CI, −2.03, −1.90; females: AAPC, −1.56%; 95% CI, −1.64, −1.48) than rural (males: AAPC, −1.43%; 95% CI, −1.47, −1.39; females: AAPC, −0.93; 95% CI, −1.03, −0.82) areas. AAPCs for cancer types were uniformly higher among urban areas compared with rural areas. Despite overall decreases, deaths rates for liver and pancreas cancers increased, including in the most recent period among males (2012–2020, APC, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.49, 2.20) and females (2013–2020, APC, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.03, 3.02) in rural areas. Conclusions Cancer death rates decreased in all racial and ethnic populations; however, the rural–urban differences varied by race/ethnicity. The rate of decline in mortality rates were lower in rural areas and death rates for liver and pancreas cancers increased, particularly for individuals living in rural America.
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spelling doaj.art-f570c5089bd8407ba466ad1ce66fb30d2024-01-09T05:21:15ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342023-09-011218189881899810.1002/cam4.6451Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020Itunu O. Sokale0Syed Ahsan Raza1Aaron P. Thrift2Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas USASection of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas USASection of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas USAAbstract Background Cancer mortality rates overall in the U.S. have decreased significantly; however, the rate of decline has not been uniform across sociodemographic groups. We aimed to compare trends in cancer mortality rates from 1999 to 2020 between rural and urban individuals and to examine whether any rural–urban differences are uniform across racial and ethnic groups. Methods We used U.S.‐wide data from the National Center for Health Statistics, for all cancer deaths among individuals aged 25 years or older. We estimated average annual percentage change (AAPC) in age‐standardized cancer mortality rates in the U.S. by cancer type, rural–urban status, sex, and race and ethnicity. Results There was a larger reduction in cancer mortality rates among individuals from urban (males: AAPC, −1.96%; 95% CI, −2.03, −1.90; females: AAPC, −1.56%; 95% CI, −1.64, −1.48) than rural (males: AAPC, −1.43%; 95% CI, −1.47, −1.39; females: AAPC, −0.93; 95% CI, −1.03, −0.82) areas. AAPCs for cancer types were uniformly higher among urban areas compared with rural areas. Despite overall decreases, deaths rates for liver and pancreas cancers increased, including in the most recent period among males (2012–2020, APC, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.49, 2.20) and females (2013–2020, APC, 1.52; 95% CI, 0.03, 3.02) in rural areas. Conclusions Cancer death rates decreased in all racial and ethnic populations; however, the rural–urban differences varied by race/ethnicity. The rate of decline in mortality rates were lower in rural areas and death rates for liver and pancreas cancers increased, particularly for individuals living in rural America.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6451cancer preventioncancer risk factorsepidemiologygynecological oncologyliver cancerpancreatic cancer
spellingShingle Itunu O. Sokale
Syed Ahsan Raza
Aaron P. Thrift
Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
Cancer Medicine
cancer prevention
cancer risk factors
epidemiology
gynecological oncology
liver cancer
pancreatic cancer
title Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
title_full Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
title_fullStr Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
title_full_unstemmed Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
title_short Disparities in cancer mortality patterns: A comprehensive examination of U.S. rural and urban adults, 1999–2020
title_sort disparities in cancer mortality patterns a comprehensive examination of u s rural and urban adults 1999 2020
topic cancer prevention
cancer risk factors
epidemiology
gynecological oncology
liver cancer
pancreatic cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6451
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