Widening NSW cancer survival gaps
Among 651,245 NSW cancer cases, people in more disadvantaged areas had higher cancer death risk, and disparities appeared to widen over time.
Source
Cancer survival disparities worsening by socio-economic disadvantage over the last 3 decades in new South Wales, Australia
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cohort — Population-based NSW cancer registrations; SEIFA quintiles and remoteness
- N
- N=651245 · Mean follow-up 5.5 years
- Population
- People with cancer registered in New South Wales, Australia
- Outcome
- Cancer-death risk (SHR) by socio-economic disadvantage and remoteness
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Widening NSW cancer survival gaps
These passages occur verbatim in the stored paper text. They support the points listed below; they do not verify every statement in the explanation.
Most disadvantaged areas SHR 1.15 (95% CI 1.13–1.17).
Compared with cases living in the least socio-economically disadvantaged areas, those living in all other SEIFA quintiles had an increased risk of cancer death, with the highest risk elevation observed for the most disadvantaged areas (SHR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13–1.17).
Authors’ conclusion?
Active attention is needed to address cancer survival disparities by socio-economic disadvantage, especially as these disparities appear to have increased.
What they did
Population-based survival analyses of NSW cancer registrations related SEIFA socio-economic quintiles and remoteness to cancer death, adjusting for stage and demographics.
What they found
Vs least disadvantaged areas, all other SEIFA quintiles had higher cancer-death risk, highest in most disadvantaged (SHR 1.15); authors conclude disparities appear to have increased and need active policy attention.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cannot isolate a single causal pathway (screening, treatment access, comorbidity) driving the widening gap.
Key terms
- SEIFA
- Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas ranking neighbourhood disadvantage.
- Sub-hazard ratio (SHR)
- Competing-risk relative risk of cancer death.
- Cancer registry
- Population cancer incidence/survival data source.
- Remoteness
- Major city vs regional/remote residence category.
- Summary stage
- Localised vs more advanced disease at diagnosis.
- Widening disparity
- Socio-economic survival gap increasing across decades.
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Cohort N?
Common questions
How many cases?
651,245 with mean 5.5 years follow-up.
Most disadvantaged SHR?
1.15 (95% CI 1.13–1.17) vs least disadvantaged.
Authors’ call to action?
Active attention; disparities appear to have increased.
Sex mix?
55% male.
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