L Raymond Guo, M Courtney Hughes, Margaret E Wright, Alyssa H Harris, Meredith C Osias
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Despite declining cancer death rates in the US, cancer remains the second deadliest disease and disparities persist. Although research has focused on identifying risk factors for cancer deaths and associated disparities, few studies have examined how these relationships vary over time and space. The primary objective of this study was to identify cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots - areas where cancer death rates decreased less than or more than neighboring areas over time. A secondary objective was to identify risk factors of cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots.
Methods: We analyzed county-level cancer death rates from 2004 through 2008 and 2014 through 2018, exploring disparities in changes over time for socioeconomic and demographic variables. We used hot spot analysis to identify areas with larger decreases (cold spots) and smaller decreases (hot spots) in cancer death rates and random forest machine learning analysis to assess the relative importance of risk factors associated with hot spots and cold spots. We mapped spatial clustering areas.
Results: Geospatial analysis showed hot spots predominantly in the Plains states and Midwest and cold spots in the Southeast, Northeast, 2 Mountain West states (Utah and Idaho), and a portion of Texas. Factors with the strongest influence on hot spots and cold spots were unemployment, preventable hospital stays, mammography screening, and high school education.
Conclusion: Geospatial disparities in changes in cancer death rates point out the critical role of access to care, socioeconomic position, and health behaviors in persistent cancer mortality disparities. Study results provide insights for interventions and policies that focus on addressing health care access and social determinants of health.
期刊介绍:
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed electronic journal established by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The mission of PCD is to promote the open exchange of information and knowledge among researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and others who strive to improve the health of the public through chronic disease prevention. The vision of PCD is to be the premier forum where practitioners and policy makers inform research and researchers help practitioners and policy makers more effectively improve the health of the population. Articles focus on preventing and controlling chronic diseases and conditions, promoting health, and examining the biological, behavioral, physical, and social determinants of health and their impact on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality across the life span.