Socioeconomic Effects on Breast Cancer Survival
Author Information
Author(s): Kaffashian F, Godward S, Davies T, Solomon L, McCann J, Duffy S W
Primary Institution: Cancer Intelligence Unit, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, UK
Hypothesis
Does socioeconomic status affect breast cancer survival after adjusting for stage and morphology?
Conclusion
Women with lower socioeconomic status have poorer breast cancer survival, which is not fully explained by stage or tumor type.
Supporting Evidence
- Lower socioeconomic status is associated with poorer survival rates in breast cancer patients.
- Adjustment for stage and morphology does not fully account for the survival disadvantage in low socioeconomic status women.
- Survival differences persist even after accounting for tumor stage and type.
Takeaway
This study found that women who are less wealthy tend to do worse with breast cancer, even when you consider how advanced their cancer is when they find out about it.
Methodology
The study analyzed 10,865 breast cancer cases from the Eastern Anglian Cancer Registry, using survival analysis methods to assess the impact of socioeconomic status, stage, and morphology on survival.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on historical data and the classification of socioeconomic status.
Limitations
The study had missing data on occupation and social class, which may limit the analysis.
Participant Demographics
Participants were breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1982 and 1993 in East Anglia, UK.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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