1. Disparities in cancer mortality in Los Angeles County, 1999–2013: an analysis comparing trends in under-resourced and affluent regions
- Author
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Maxwell, Annette E, Sundin, Phillip, and Crespi, Catherine M
- Subjects
Epidemiology ,Health Services and Systems ,Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Colo-Rectal Cancer ,Digestive Diseases ,Prevention ,Breast Cancer ,Cancer ,Good Health and Well Being ,Adult ,Breast Neoplasms ,Colorectal Neoplasms ,Female ,Health Resources ,Health Status Disparities ,Humans ,Los Angeles ,Lung Neoplasms ,Male ,Social Class ,Age ,and race ,ethnicity-standardized cancer mortality ,Cancer mortality trends ,Determinants of health ,Absolute disparities ,Relative disparities ,Between-group disparities ,Age- and race/ethnicity-standardized cancer mortality ,Oncology and Carcinogenesis ,Public Health and Health Services ,Oncology and carcinogenesis - Abstract
PurposeWhile cancer mortality has declined by 27% between 1991 and 2016 in the United States, there are large disparities in cancer mortality by racial/ethnic groups, socioeconomic status and access to care. The purpose of this analysis is to compare trends in cancer mortality among regions (Service Planning Areas, SPAs) in Los Angeles (LA) County that vary with respect to racial/ethnic distribution and social determinants of health, including poverty, education and access to care.MethodsWe estimated age- and race/ethnicity-standardized mortality for lung, colorectal (CRC) and breast cancer for eight SPAs from 1999 to 2013. We calculated three recommended measures of disparities that reflect absolute, relative and between-group disparities.ResultsIn all of LA County, statistically significant declines in age- and race/ethnicity-standardized mortality ranged from 30% for lung cancer to 20% for CRC to 15% for breast cancer. Despite some of the largest declines in the most under-resourced SPAs (South LA, East LA, South Bay), disparities between the lowest and highest mortality by SPA did not significantly change from 1999 to 2013.ConclusionsDespite significant declines in cancer mortality in LA County from 1999 to 2013, and in racial/ethnic groups, there was little progress toward reducing disparities among SPAs. Highest mortalities for the three cancers were observed in Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, South LA and East LA. Findings demonstrate the importance of examining regional differences in cancer mortality to identify areas with highest needs for interventions and policies to reduce cancer disparities.
- Published
- 2020